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Water molecules are attracted to each other with some very strong forces, like hydrogen bonding and dipole-dipole attractions. Those attractions lower the energy of the water molecules and make their interactions very favorable (which is why water has such a high melting and boiling point). To dissolve an organic molecule (or any molecule for that matter) into water, you need to physically separate these water molecules from each other to carve out space for the molecules to reside. This means breaking up some of these really favorable hydrogen bonding and dipole-dipole interactions. The only way this is going to happen is if the interactions the water molecules have with the organic molecules are as good if not better than the interactions the water molecules were having with each other. Those organic molecules that can form hydrogen bonds and/or are polar tend to be soluble in water because they can replace the nice interactions between the water molecules. Those organic molecules that are non-polar or are really big and partially non-polar will not be able to replace the happy water-water interactions and so will be excluded (i.e. sit in a layer on top of the water). Ironically, from an energy standpoint, the organic molecules would love to hang out with the water molecules and benefit from their strong dipoles, but just like nerds at a party full of "cool kids" are excluded from those interactions because they cannot reciprocate with a strong dipole of their own.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoThe solubility of a substance in water depends on whether its molecules are polar. Polar substances will dissolve more readily in water (which is a polar substance itself) than nonpolar substances will.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoMany organic compounds, such as ethanol and lactic acid, are actually fully soluble in water.
But many others are not as they contain nonpolar hydrocarbon chains and nonpolar substances are generally insoluble in polar substances such as water.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoionic compounds are polar,only a polar solvent can dissole a polar compound,so salt will not dissolve in oil but will dissolve in water because water is polar.....
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoMost organic compounds have nonpolar molecules.
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Do organic compounds dissolve in water?
As a rule, polar compounds dissolve in water. Most of the organic compounds are non polar, so they do not dissolve in water. polar organic compounds like ethyl alcohol, suger. Acetic acid etc dissolve in water, because they are polar in nature.
What does the formula for propane tell you about a molecule of propane?
It is a saturated hydrocarbon. It is a covalent compound and has all properties which are identical to simple covalent compounds. Low boiling and melting points, soluble in organic solvents (most simple covalent compounds are soluble in organic solvent), insoluble in water and does not conduct electricity as in does not have free ions.Its tetrahedral geometry makes it non-polar.It contains four hydrogen atoms
What is the source of most of the synthetic organic compounds that are used today?
the heart is the most synthetic organic compounds today used..
What is most likely to contain organic compounds?
natural substances
Which is most likely to contain organic compounds?
Biomolecules and other organic juices are most likely to contain organic compounds. Also, things like vegetable oils are also organic compounds.
What is true of most organic compounds?
Most of the organic compounds are solids, combustible, non polar and insoluble in water.
Are most hydroxide compounds soluble in water?
No, most hydroxides are insoluble in water.
Are organic compounds less soluble in water?
Organic compounds have to be defined as best as possible to determine what is soluble in water. Organic compounds are molecules composed with carbons--pure hydrocarbons like octane would not be soluble in water. Organic compounds can also have electronegative molecules in it. Dichloroethane, methanol, ethanol, etc are soluble in water. However, most organic compounds will more likely have low solubility in water, since increasing the number of carbon molecules in any compound drastically reduces water solubility.
Is water one of the most organic compounds for living things?
Water is vital but it is INORGANIC
What are the characteristic properties of organic and inorganic compound?
Some characteristics of organic compounds are that many are gases or solids that have low melting points and they do not conduct electricity. Some characteristics of inorganic compounds are almost all are insoluble inorganic solvents, they do form ions that can conduct electricity, and most have high melting points.
What can you tell about methane (CH4) from its molecular formula?
It is a saturated hydrocarbon. It is a covalent compound and has all properties which are identical to simple covalent compounds. Low boiling and melting points, soluble in organic solvents (most simple covalent compounds are soluble in organic solvent), insoluble in water and does not conduct electricity as in does not have free ions.Its tetrahedral geometry makes it non-polar.It contains four hydrogen atoms
Are organic compounds made of sugars or starches.?
Sugars and starches are organic compounds. But not all organic compounds are sugars and starches .
Do organic compounds dissolve in water?
As a rule, polar compounds dissolve in water. Most of the organic compounds are non polar, so they do not dissolve in water. polar organic compounds like ethyl alcohol, suger. Acetic acid etc dissolve in water, because they are polar in nature.
What does the formula for propane tell you about a molecule of propane?
It is a saturated hydrocarbon. It is a covalent compound and has all properties which are identical to simple covalent compounds. Low boiling and melting points, soluble in organic solvents (most simple covalent compounds are soluble in organic solvent), insoluble in water and does not conduct electricity as in does not have free ions.Its tetrahedral geometry makes it non-polar.It contains four hydrogen atoms
Why water is the most important?
Water has a polar molecule; this is the principal cause which favors the dissolution of hydrophilic compounds. Water is also a solvent for the most important organic compounds involved in biochemistry.
What most likely to contain organic compounds?
living things are most likely to contain organic compounds
Explain why most carbon compounds are classified as organic compounds?
Organic compounds are compounds necessary to life, and most macromolecules necessary to life contain carbon.
