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Which one of the following compounds is least soluble in water at room temperature? A - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 1 - 2011 - Paper 1
Question 1
Which one of the following compounds is least soluble in water at room temperature? A. ethane B. ethanol C. ethylamine D. ethanoic acid
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Which one of the following compounds is least soluble in water at room temperature? A - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 1 - 2011 - Paper 1
Step 1
Which one of the following compounds is least soluble in water at room temperature?
Answer
To determine which of these compounds is least soluble in water, we should consider their structures and polarities.
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Ethane (A) is a simple hydrocarbon (C2H6) that is nonpolar due to its lack of significant electronegative atoms. It has very low solubility in water.
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Ethanol (B) (C2H5OH) has a hydroxyl (-OH) group, which is polar and allows for hydrogen bonding with water, making it quite soluble.
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Ethylamine (C) (C2H5NH2) also has an amine group, which can form hydrogen bonds with water, contributing to its solubility.
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Ethanoic Acid (D) (C2H4O2) has both a hydroxyl and a carbonyl group, enabling strong hydrogen bonding with water molecules.
Considering these factors, ethane, being a nonpolar molecule, is expected to be the least soluble in water when compared to the other polar compounds. Therefore, the answer is A. ethane.