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"like dissolves like" is an expression used by chemists to remember how some solvents work. It refers to "polar" and "nonpolar" solvents and solutes. Basic example: Water is polar. Oil is non-polar. Water will not dissolve oil. Water is polar. Salt (NaCl) is also polar. Like dissolves like, so polar dissolves polar, so water dissolves salt.

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13y ago
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12y ago

It Means when a certain object is droped into water or a sulution and can be mixed into it until you can't see it

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15y ago

polar substances will dissolve in polar substances and nonpolar substances will dissolve nonpolar substances.

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11y ago

Polar solutes will only dissolve in polar solvents and non polar solutes will only in non polar solvents. That is why oil and water do not mix; oil is NP while water is P.

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10y ago

It means polar substances will generally dissolve other polar substance and nonpolar substance will dissolve other nonpolar substances.

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Q: In chemistry what does 'like dissolves like' mean?
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Related questions

Who first discovered the chemistry principle that like dissolves like?

The one that discovered Chemistry is Democritus.


What does solute mean in chemistry?

A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances.


Is dissolves physical or chemical?

Chemical, if it dissolves in a solution such is acid. Physical if one mean dissolves like disintegrates.


How would you define solute in chemistry?

Solute in chemistry means the substance that dissolves in a solution.


What does like dissolves like mean to a scientist?

to pass or cause to pass into a solution


A word meaning how much of a solid dissolves in liquid?

Solubility


Which type of compound dissolves in water polar or non-polar?

The phrase "Like-Dissolves-Like" will answer your question and subsequent answers in the future. Water is a polar species which only likes to dissolve or dissolve into other polar speices. Therefore a nonploar compound like n-hexane would not readily dissovle (mix) with water. There are multiple reasons for this observed trend and any intro level chemistry book or organic book will have those answers.


What does the science term called like dissolves like mean?

"Like Dissolves Like" is a concept in chemistry discribing hydrophobic (nonpolar) and hydrophilic (polar) interactions. Polar molecules, in order to reduce unfavorable interactions that require free energy to compensate for, tend to associate with other polar molecules. Non-polar molecules, likewise, associate with other nonpolar molecules. The terms hydrophobic and hydrophilic are used to describe a molecules tendency to associate with water. Polar molecules, using the "like dissolves like" concept associate with water, while nonpolar molecules tend to reduce interactions with water.


What does the expression like dissolves like mean?

"Like dissolves like" basically means that the substances can dissolve in one another because they are either charged or polar. Hope this helps!


What is solubility in chemistry?

Solubility is the ability of an ionic compound t dissociate in a solution.


What is 'like dissolves like'?

The chemistry principal of "like dissolves like," explains that polar substances will dissolve in each other. Similarly, a covalent will dissolve another covalent.


What is the purpose of knowing if salt dissolves better in water than baking soda?

solubility it important to understanding chemistry