Br₂ is much more soluble in tetrachloromethane (CCl₄) than in water. Explain.

Solubility is greatly influenced by the polarity of solvents. Water is a polar solvent, meaning it has a significant dipole moment due to its molecular structure, which allows it to interact well with other polar substances. In contrast, tetrachloromethane (CCl₄) is a nonpolar solvent, which interacts more effectively with nonpolar solutes like Br₂, leading to higher solubility.

The principle of 'like dissolves like' states that polar solvents dissolve polar solutes, while nonpolar solvents dissolve nonpolar solutes. Since Br₂ is a nonpolar molecule, it is more soluble in nonpolar solvents like CCl₄ than in polar solvents like water. This principle helps predict solubility behavior based on the nature of the solute and solvent.

Intermolecular forces play a crucial role in solubility. In water, hydrogen bonding and dipole-dipole interactions dominate, which do not favor the dissolution of nonpolar substances like Br₂. In CCl₄, the weak London dispersion forces allow for better interaction with Br₂, facilitating its solubility in the nonpolar environment.