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Multiple Choice
Which of the following compounds is expected to be most soluble in benzene?
A
KNO_3 (potassium nitrate)
B
C_6H_6 (benzene)
C
NaCl (sodium chloride)
D
CH_3OH (methanol)
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Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the principle 'like dissolves like,' which means that solvents tend to dissolve solutes with similar polarity and intermolecular forces.
Identify the polarity of benzene (C_6H_6): benzene is a nonpolar solvent due to its symmetrical ring structure and lack of significant dipole moment.
Analyze the polarity of each solute: KNO_3 and NaCl are ionic compounds and highly polar, CH_3OH (methanol) is polar and can form hydrogen bonds, while benzene (C_6H_6) is nonpolar.
Compare the solutes' polarity to benzene's polarity: nonpolar benzene will better dissolve nonpolar substances or those with similar nonpolar characteristics.
Conclude that benzene (C_6H_6) itself is most soluble in benzene because it is nonpolar, whereas ionic compounds and polar molecules like KNO_3, NaCl, and CH_3OH are not expected to be soluble in nonpolar benzene.