What factor determines if two liquids will be miscible or immiscible?

Answer 1

Molecules that do not dissolve in other molecules that are similar. If the molecules are not similar, they will not mix. Therefore, you have an immiscible liquid.

Polar solvents will only dissolve polar compounds. (e.g. NaCl in H2O soln)

Nonpolar solvents will only dissolve nonpolar compunds. (e.g Vitamin A in an oil)

However, certain solvents are miscible with both polar and nonpolar solvents. An example of this would be ethanol (CH3CH2OH), which is miscible with water(polar) and hexane(nonpolar).

Answer 2

The factor that determines if two liquids will be miscible or immiscible is the relative polarity of the liquids. Liquids that have similar polarities are more likely to be miscible, while liquids with very different polarities are more likely to be immiscible. Miscibility increases with increasing polarity and decreases as the differences in polarity between the liquids become greater.

Answer 3

The Van der Waals forces (intermolecular bonding)