Question

The below six compounds belong to four different classes of organic compounds. Which of the four classes would be the most soluble in non-polar compounds? Explain your answer.1a.) ethane C2H6 Answer: The class of organic compound that ethane compound belongs to is Alkane.-ane. 1b.) ethanol C2H6O (CH3CH2OH) Answer: The class of organic compound that ethanol compound belongs to is Alcohol.-ol. 1c.) ethanoic acid C2H4O2 (CH3COOH) Answer: The class of organic compound that ethanoic acid compound belongs to is Carboxylic Acid –oic acid. 1d.) methoxymethane C2H6O (CH3OCH3) Answer: The class of organic compound that methoxymethane compound belongs to is Ether –oxy- . 1e.) octane C8H18 Answer: The class of organic compound that octane compound belongs to is Alkane -ane. 1f.) 1-octanol C8H18O (CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2OH) The class of organic compound that ethanol compound belongs to is Alcohol.-ol.

Answer 1

• Ethane - non polar being a hydrocarbon.
• Ethanol - polar ( due to presence of -OH group)
• Ethanoic acid - polar ( due to presence of -COOH group)
• Ether - polar ( due to presence of -O- group)
• Octane - non polar being a hydrocarbon.
• Octanol - Polar ( due to presence of -OH group)

Like dissolves like. Polar compounds are soluble in polar solvents. Non polar compounds are soluble in non polar solvents.

so hydrocarbons which possess only C-H bonds are non polar and are soluble in polar solvents.

Between ethane and octane both are equally non polar.

But a sharp difference between the two given hydrocarbons do exists, the length of the hydrocarbon chain. octane is large hydrocarbon compared to ethane.. So octane possess more hydrophobic/liophobic character. So of all the issues octane is confirmed to be most soluble in non polar solvents.