Question

What type of interactions are responsible for the solubility of a noble gas in water? Explain.

Answer 1

1. Water is a polar molecule with a positive part (hydrogen).
2. The positive part of water attracts and distorts the electron cloud of the noble gas atom.
3. This distortion induces a dipole in the noble gas atom (induced dipole).
4. Weak electrostatic forces act between the water dipoles and the induced dipoles of the gas.
5. These weak forces cause the noble gas to dissolve slightly in water.
6. Larger noble gas atoms are more easily polarized, so solubility increases down the group from He to Xe.

This explains why noble gases have slight solubility in water, primarily through dipole-induced dipole attractions.