Multiple Choice
Wax is a nonpolar substance. In which type of solvent is wax most soluble?
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6. Chemical Quantities & Aqueous Reactions
Solubility Rules
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Which of the following best describes what happens when a salt dissolves in water according to solubility rules?
A
The salt remains as a solid and does not interact with water molecules.
B
The salt forms a precipitate that settles at the bottom of the container.
C
The salt reacts with water to form a new compound.
D
The salt dissociates into its constituent ions, which become surrounded by water molecules.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that when a salt dissolves in water, it undergoes a physical process called dissociation, where the solid ionic compound separates into its individual ions.
Recall that water is a polar solvent, meaning its molecules have partial positive and negative charges, which allows them to interact with charged ions effectively.
Recognize that the positive ions (cations) are attracted to the partially negative oxygen atoms of water molecules, while the negative ions (anions) are attracted to the partially positive hydrogen atoms of water molecules.
This interaction between ions and water molecules is called hydration (or solvation), where water molecules surround and stabilize the ions in solution, preventing them from recombining into a solid.
Therefore, the salt does not remain as a solid, form a precipitate, or chemically react to form a new compound; instead, it dissociates into ions that are individually surrounded by water molecules.
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