Question

Carbon tetrachloride and water are immiscible, whereas ethanol and water are miscible in all proportions. Correlate this behaviour with molecular structures of these compounds.

Answer 1

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) is a non-polar molecule, while water is highly polar, so they are immiscible due to the difference in polarity; “like dissolves like” does not apply. On the other hand, ethanol (C₂H₅OH) has both a polar –OH group and a non-polar ethyl group, allowing it to form hydrogen bonds with water. This makes ethanol and water miscible in all proportions.