Is H2O or CH3(CH2)4CH3 a better solvent for an NaCl solute?
H2O (water) is a better solvent for NaCl (sodium chloride) than CH3(CH2)4CH3 (hexane).
Water is a polar solvent, meaning it has a partial positive and partial negative charge due to its polar bonds between hydrogen and oxygen. Sodium chloride is an ionic compound, meaning it consists of positively charged sodium ions (Na+) and negatively charged chloride ions (Cl-). Water can easily dissociate the sodium and chloride ions and solvate them due to its polarity, allowing for effective dissolution of NaCl.
On the other hand, hexane is a nonpolar solvent. It has only nonpolar carbon-hydrogen bonds, which do not have significant positive or negative charges. Since NaCl is an ionic compound, it requires a polar solvent to effectively dissolve. Hexane is not capable of effectively solvating the Na+ and Cl- ions, therefore it is a less suitable solvent for NaCl compared to water.