Question

[dentistguinness]

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Could anyone help me out with this question?

If partitioned between equal volumes of ether and water, which would show the greatest preference for the water layer?
A. CH3CH2CH2CH2CH3
B. CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2Cl
C. CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2OH
D. HO-CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2OH
OH OH OH
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E. HO-CH2-CH-CH-CH-CH2OH

the 3 OH's are supposed to be above the 3 CH

 

[caffeine jitters]

E has the greatest capacity for hydrogen bonding with H2O

 

[dentistguinness]

E has the greatest capacity for hydrogen bonding with H2O

Do you mind explaining please?

 

[MendiT13]

The more H-bonding (H to N,O,F) a molecule has the more attracted it will be to water, since water has H-bonding between the Os-Hs. So the more non-polar a molecule is, like hydrocarbons (CH), the less the intermolecular forces are between a polar and non-polar molecules... hope that makes sense.

 

[Valcandoit]

Just think of it like this: Water is polar. We know polarity determines solubility. "Like dissolves in like" So polar dissolves in polar and non polar dissolves in non polar if you get what im saying. O-H bond is polar. Think more O-H, more polar. Hydrocarbons (C-H) are non polar. The more C-Hs you have, the more non polar.