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Solubility

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Whether one substance dissolves in another comes down to matching intermolecular forces: like dissolves like. Polar and ionic solutes dissolve in polar solvents (water); nonpolar solutes dissolve in nonpolar solvents. Dissolving happens when solute-solvent attractions can replace the solute-solute and solvent-solvent ones.

UNIT 3 TOPIC 3.10 • SOLUBILITY LIKE DISSOLVES LIKE Solubility depends on polarity and intermolecular-force matching. DISSOLVES (FAVORABLE) DOES NOT DISSOLVE (UNFAVORABLE) 1. POLAR SOLUTE IN POLAR SOLVENT SOLUTE SOLVENT Polar Polar O H H δ− δ+ δ+ O H H δ− δ+ δ+ Strong solute–solvent interactions (e.g., H-bonds, dipole–dipole) DISSOLVES 2. NONPOLAR SOLUTE IN NONPOLAR SOLVENT SOLUTE SOLVENT Nonpolar Nonpolar London dispersion forces are similar in solute and solvent DISSOLVES 3. POLAR SOLUTE IN NONPOLAR SOLVENT SOLUTE SOLVENT Polar Nonpolar O H H δ− δ+ δ+ New interactions are weak and cannot compete with existing solute–solute and solvent–solvent interactions DOES NOT DISSOLVE THE TAKEAWAY Solubility is greatest when solute–solvent interactions match the type and strength of the interactions already present in the pure solute and solvent. POLAR ↔ POLAR ✓ │ NONPOLAR ↔ NONPOLAR ✓ │ POLAR ↔ NONPOLAR ✗ AP Chemistry · Unit 3 · Properties of Substances & Mixtures
Like dissolves like. A solute dissolves when its intermolecular forces are compatible with the solvent's: polar (and ionic) solutes dissolve in polar solvents such as water, while nonpolar solutes dissolve in nonpolar solvents. Mismatched forces mean little dissolving.
Like Dissolves Like · Open the sandbox →

The misconceptions treat solubility as a fixed property of the solute alone, rather than a match between solute and solvent. Oil does not dissolve in water not because oil 'cannot dissolve,' but because its nonpolar forces do not match water's polar ones.

The work

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Lesson
Solubility ›

Like dissolves like: solubility is a match of intermolecular forces between solute and solvent. The lesson predicts dissolving from polarity, then closes with a ten-scenario check.

Skill check · 10 scenarios
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Diagnostic
10-item topic check ›

Ten items spanning the Topic 3.10 misconception: solubility treated as a property of the solute alone, rather than a match of intermolecular forces between solute and solvent.

Not started · 10 items · ~15 min
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Targeted Practice
Drill a single misconception ›

Pick one of the failure modes you missed and drill it on its own. The round is adaptive: two correct in a row clears the misconception and moves you to the next.

Take the diagnostic to identify your misconceptions
Diagnostic first