Question

Which molecule is most soluble in water?

-CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂OH
-CH₃CH₂OH
-CH₃(CH₂)₄NH₂
-C₂H₆

Answer 1

Ethanol (-CH₃CH₂OH) is the most soluble of the given molecules in water due to its ability to form hydrogen bonds with water and having the shortest carbon chain among the options.

Step-by-step explanation:

The molecule most soluble in water among the provided options is -CH₃CH₂OH (ethanol). This is because ethanol has a hydroxyl group (-OH) capable of forming hydrogen bonds with water, making it highly water-soluble. In contrast, -C₂H₆ (ethane) is a nonpolar molecule with limited ability to interact with polar water molecules and therefore is the least soluble in water.

The other two molecules -CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂OH and -CH₃(CH₂)₄NH₂ have hydroxyl and amino groups, respectively, and can also engage in hydrogen bonding with water, but their longer carbon chains make them less soluble than ethanol, which has the shortest carbon chain of the group.

Answer 2

Among the given molecules, ethanol (-CH₃CH₂OH) is most soluble in water due to its ability to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules and its relatively small hydrocarbon chain.

Step-by-step explanation:

The molecule most soluble in water among the given options is -CH₃CH₂OH, also known as ethanol. Water solubility is highly influenced by the ability to form hydrogen bonds with the water molecules. Ethanol has a hydroxyl group (-OH) which is capable of forming hydrogen bonds with water, and with its relatively small hydrocarbon chain, it is more soluble in water than the other listed compounds. On the other hand, -C₂H₆ (ethane) lacks this hydroxyl group and is a nonpolar molecule, making it significantly less soluble in water. The longer hydrocarbon chains in -CH₃(CH₂)₄NH₂ (pentylamine) and CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂OH (butanol) reduce their solubility in water as compared to ethanol.