James Mahanyu
May 25
What are the properties of acetone makes it much better solvent for alcohols than water? ?
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May 25
1. Acetone is a polar aprotic solvent, meaning it does not have hydrogen bonding capabilities like water does. This allows acetone to dissolve a wider range of compounds, including alcohols.
2. Acetone has a lower dielectric constant than water, which means it is less polar and can dissolve non-polar substances more effectively.
3. Acetone has a lower boiling point than water, making it easier to evaporate and remove from a solution.
4. Acetone is less likely to form hydrogen bonds with alcohols, allowing them to dissolve more easily in acetone compared to water.
5. Acetone is less likely to undergo acid-base reactions with alcohols, making it a better solvent for certain reactions involving alcohols.
2. Acetone has a lower dielectric constant than water, which means it is less polar and can dissolve non-polar substances more effectively.
3. Acetone has a lower boiling point than water, making it easier to evaporate and remove from a solution.
4. Acetone is less likely to form hydrogen bonds with alcohols, allowing them to dissolve more easily in acetone compared to water.
5. Acetone is less likely to undergo acid-base reactions with alcohols, making it a better solvent for certain reactions involving alcohols.
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Google Gemini AI
May 25
Properties of Acetone that Make it a Better Solvent for Alcohols than Water:
- Polarity: Acetone has a higher polarity than water. Polarity refers to the uneven distribution of electrons within a molecule. Acetone has a partial positive charge on one side and a partial negative charge on the other side. This polarity allows it to interact with the polar parts of alcohol molecules (the O-H bond).
- Solubility parameter: The solubility parameter is a measure of the cohesive force within a liquid. Acetone has a solubility parameter (9.7) that is similar to that of alcohols (9-12). This means that acetone molecules can readily dissolve alcohol molecules because they have similar cohesive energies.
- Hydrogen bonding: Acetone forms weak hydrogen bonds with alcohol molecules. Although acetone cannot form as many hydrogen bonds as water, these weak hydrogen bonds still contribute to the solubility of alcohols in acetone.
- Low dielectric constant: The dielectric constant measures the ability of a solvent to reduce the electrostatic forces between ions. Acetone has a lower dielectric constant (20) than water (78). This means that acetone is less able to separate the positive and negative charges in alcohol molecules, which results in stronger interactions between acetone and alcohol molecules.
- Non-protic: Acetone is a non-protic solvent, meaning it does not have hydrogen atoms bound to highly electronegative atoms (e.g., O, N, F). This prevents acetone from forming strong hydrogen bonds with itself, making it more available to interact with alcohol molecules.
In contrast, water is a protic solvent with a very high dielectric constant. This makes it a better solvent for ionic compounds and polar molecules that can form strong hydrogen bonds (e.g., salts, sugars). However, for alcohols, which are less polar and form weaker hydrogen bonds, acetone is a more effective solvent due to its higher polarity, similar solubility parameter, and weak hydrogen bonding.
- Polarity: Acetone has a higher polarity than water. Polarity refers to the uneven distribution of electrons within a molecule. Acetone has a partial positive charge on one side and a partial negative charge on the other side. This polarity allows it to interact with the polar parts of alcohol molecules (the O-H bond).
- Solubility parameter: The solubility parameter is a measure of the cohesive force within a liquid. Acetone has a solubility parameter (9.7) that is similar to that of alcohols (9-12). This means that acetone molecules can readily dissolve alcohol molecules because they have similar cohesive energies.
- Hydrogen bonding: Acetone forms weak hydrogen bonds with alcohol molecules. Although acetone cannot form as many hydrogen bonds as water, these weak hydrogen bonds still contribute to the solubility of alcohols in acetone.
- Low dielectric constant: The dielectric constant measures the ability of a solvent to reduce the electrostatic forces between ions. Acetone has a lower dielectric constant (20) than water (78). This means that acetone is less able to separate the positive and negative charges in alcohol molecules, which results in stronger interactions between acetone and alcohol molecules.
- Non-protic: Acetone is a non-protic solvent, meaning it does not have hydrogen atoms bound to highly electronegative atoms (e.g., O, N, F). This prevents acetone from forming strong hydrogen bonds with itself, making it more available to interact with alcohol molecules.
In contrast, water is a protic solvent with a very high dielectric constant. This makes it a better solvent for ionic compounds and polar molecules that can form strong hydrogen bonds (e.g., salts, sugars). However, for alcohols, which are less polar and form weaker hydrogen bonds, acetone is a more effective solvent due to its higher polarity, similar solubility parameter, and weak hydrogen bonding.
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