Question

Why are ionic compounds soluble in water but covalent compounds in kerosene?

Answer 1

Understanding the concept:

• A compound known as an ionic compound is one that is created when two oppositely charged ions come together to form a chemical bond, such as sodium chloride($\mathrm{NaCl}$) and water(${\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$).
• A compound formed by covalent bonds in which one or even more valence electrons are shared by the atoms is called a covalent compound.
• Methane, Kerosene, and petrol are some examples of covalent compounds.

Explanation of ionic compounds soluble in water but covalent compounds in kerosene:

• As we know "like dissolves like," polar & ionic substances will dissolve in any substance if it is polar. For instance, HCl in water.
• Only non-polar compounds can be dissolved in a non-polar solvent, like naphthalene in kerosene.
• Since water itself has a stronger ionic bond and therefore is polar in nature, water destroys the ionic bond through hydrogen bonding.
• Many other solvents, like kerosene and gasoline, are unable to dissolve the ionic bond.
• Since they all have covalent and are non-polar in nature, it is impossible to dissolve them.
• Thus they like to dissolve covalent compounds.