Question

Lower alcohols are highly soluble in water due to__.

• A. Van der Waal's interaction
• B. Dipole dipole interaction
• C. Steric hindrance
• D. Hydrogen bonding

Answer 1

The correct option is D Hydrogen bonding

The solubility of lower alcohols is due to the existance of hydrogen bonds between water and polar -OH group of alcohol molecules.
The -OH group in alcohols contain a hydrogen bonded to an electronegative oxygen atom.Thus they form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. Higher alcohols have large number of hydrocarbon chains which results in more steric hindrance to make bonds which result in less solubility.