What are the effects of polarity on solubility?

What are the effects of polarity on solubility?

Polarity affects solubility significantly. Polar substances tend to dissolve well in polar solvents, while non-polar substances dissolve in non-polar solvents. This is often summarized by the phrase 'like dissolves like.'

Can you give me an example of a polar and a non-polar substance?

Sure! Water is a polar substance, while oil is a non-polar substance. Water dissolves salts and sugars, but oil does not.

Why does water dissolve salt but not oil?

Water dissolves salt because the positive and negative ions of salt interact with the polar water molecules, breaking the ionic bonds. Oil, being non-polar, does not interact with water molecules.

What happens when you mix oil and water?

When you mix oil and water, they do not mix well due to their different polarities. Oil will float on top of water because it is less dense and does not interact with the polar water molecules.

Are there any exceptions to the 'like dissolves like' rule?

Yes, there are exceptions. Some polar substances can dissolve in non-polar solvents under certain conditions, but these cases are less common.