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Solubility of methanol and ethanol in water
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Mark Neidorff
Solubility of methanol and ethanol in water
How does a alcohol get soluble in water? The $\ce{H2O}$ molecule acts as bipolar and the positive pole forms some weak hydrogen attraction (name this 'bond' if you like) with the oxygen of alcohol. Now it's obvious, the more bulkier the group around oxygen, the less space around oxygen to form this bond. Hence $\ce{CH3OH}$ is more soluble in water than $\ce{C2H5OH}$. After all, $\ce{-C2H5}$ group is more soluble than $\ce{-CH3}$ group.
How does a alcohol get soluble in water? The $\ce{H2O}$ molecule acts as bipolar and the positive pole forms some weak hydrogen attraction (name this 'bond' if you like) with the oxygen of alcohol. Now it's obvious, the more bulkier the group around oxygen, the less space around oxygen to form this bond. Hence $\ce{CH3OH}$ is more soluble in water than $\ce{C2H5OH}$. After all, $\ce{-C2H5}$ group is more soluble than $\ce{-CH3}$ group.
Yes ,you are quite right. But I just wanted to say that if there is even a slight difference in their solubility( say at the 10th decimal place {solubility in mol/litre}), then its probable reason is the one I gave.More
Except that, as many others have stated, both methanol and ethanol are infinitely miscible in water at room temperature.More
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Options 1 and 4 both have polar $\ce{C-O}$ bonds which make them soluble in water. The question is, which one is more soluble? To answer that, notice that the non polar part of methanol is smaller, so it will be more soluble.
Options 1 and 4 both have polar $\ce{C-O}$ bonds which make them soluble in water. The question is, which one is more soluble? To answer that, notice that the non polar part of methanol is smaller, so it will be more soluble.
How does a alcohol get soluble in water? The $\ce{H2O}$ molecule acts as bipolar and the positive pole forms some weak hydrogen attraction (name this 'bond' if you like) with the oxygen of alcohol. Now it's obvious, the more bulkier the group around oxygen, the less space around oxygen to form this bond. Hence $\ce{CH3OH}$ is more soluble in water than $\ce{C2H5OH}$. After all, $\ce{-C2H5}$ group is more soluble than $\ce{-CH3}$ group.
How does a alcohol get soluble in water? The $\ce{H2O}$ molecule acts as bipolar and the positive pole forms some weak hydrogen attraction (name this 'bond' if you like) with the oxygen of alcohol. Now it's obvious, the more bulkier the group around oxygen, the less space around oxygen to form this bond. Hence $\ce{CH3OH}$ is more soluble in water than $\ce{C2H5OH}$. After all, $\ce{-C2H5}$ group is more soluble than $\ce{-CH3}$ group.
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Options 1 and 4 both have polar $\ce{C-O}$ bonds which make them soluble in water. The question is, which one is more soluble? To answer that, notice that the non polar part of methanol is smaller, so it will be more soluble.
Options 1 and 4 both have polar $\ce{C-O}$ bonds which make them soluble in water. The question is, which one is more soluble? To answer that, notice that the non polar part of methanol is smaller, so it will be more soluble.
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For primary alcohols, the trend is the longer the chain, the less soluble.
However, at room temperature, methanol, ethanol and propanol are all completely miscible with water.
At lower temperature, below the freezing point of water, there is finite solubility.
See the phase diagram that is Fig. 1 in CRYSTAL GROWTH OF WATER ETHANOL MIXTURE and that in Fig. 1 of Solid-Liquid Phase Diagram of the System Methanol-Water
Which alcohol would you choose for windshield deicing solution?
For primary alcohols, the trend is the longer the chain, the less soluble.
However, at room temperature, methanol, ethanol and propanol are all completely miscible with water.
At lower temperature, below the freezing point of water, there is finite solubility.
See the phase diagram that is Fig. 1 in CRYSTAL GROWTH OF WATER ETHANOL MIXTURE and that in Fig. 1 of Solid-Liquid Phase Diagram of the System Methanol-Water
Which alcohol would you choose for windshield deicing solution?
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