Question

Fill in the blanks by selecting a correct word/terms given in the brackets.

Ionic compounds are soluble in ___. (water/benzene)

Answer 1

1. Ionic compounds become soluble if they can be dissociated into ions in a solution. Ionic compounds are made from two or more ions. Therefore, when added to a polar solvent, the ions from the ionic compound interact with the ions in the solvent, thus causing its dissociation. But organic solvents do not contain any ions and therefore cannot cause the dissociation of ionic compounds. Ionic compounds are soluble in a polar solvent and insoluble in organic solvents.
2. Water is a polar solvent that remains as protons $\left({\mathrm{H}}^{+}\right)$ and hydroxide ions $\left({\mathrm{OH}}^{-}\right)$. These ions interact with the ions from the compound, thus making it soluble. But benzene is a non-polar solvent and therefore cannot dissolve ionic compounds.
3. Therefore, ionic compounds are soluble in water.