Question

Explain the following:
Non-polar covalent compounds are insoluble in water.

Answer 1

On the basis of principle like dissolves like we can interpret the insolubility of non polar covalent compounds. Since water is a polar covalent compound that is it has positively and negatively charged ends but the non-polar covalent compounds do not have any kind of charge separation. So water molecules are unable to interact with the molecules of non polar compound and break apart the intermolecular forces of attraction among non-polar molecules making them soluble in water.