Simple Ethanol solvent question (1 Viewer)

[nahi11]

Hi,

Could anyone help me with this multiple choice question.

Ethanol is widely used as a solvent. It's solvent properties are due to:
(a) the polarity of the hydrocarbon chain
(b) the polarity of the hydroxyl group
(c) the electronegativity of the carbon atom
(d) the length of the carbon atom

I know ethanol is a good solvent as it is able to dissolve both polar and non-polar substances due the polar hydroxyl group and non polar ehtyl group C2H5.

 

[asdfqwerty]

The last sentence already shows you that you have answered your own question. But to answer your question, the answer is (B) as ethanol is most widely used as a polar solvent (hence it can dissolve in water) and be used in other products such as deodorants and pharmaceuticals.

 

[nahi11]

Thanks alot.

I was mainly confused with the wording of the answers.

 

[MzG1zi]

Hi,
Ethanol is widely used as a solvent. It's solvent properties are due to:
(a) the polarity of the hydrocarbon chain
(b) the polarity of the hydroxyl group
(c) the electronegativity of the carbon atom
(d) the length of the carbon atom

a) ---> the hydrocarbon chain is not polar but is instead held together by dispersion forces between the C and H atoms.
c)---> carbon is not an electronegative atom
d)--->all carbon atoms are the same length.

 

[nahi11]

^ Thanks again.