Question

Explain the following: 

NaCl is soluble in water but insoluble in benzene.

Answer 1

1. NaCl is soluble in water because it is an ionic compound and water is a polar solvent. Water molecules surround and stabilise the Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions by ion-dipole interactions, allowing NaCl to dissolve.
2. NaCl is insoluble in benzene because benzene is a non-polar solvent and cannot interact with the ions. Therefore, Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions are not stabilised, and NaCl does not dissolve.
3. This follows the principle Like dissolves like.