2006-08-27 09:36:18 · 10 answers · asked by Patrina F 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Oil and vinegar (which can be treated like water) don't mix because oil is non-polar and vinegar/water is polar. Polar molecules have a slight charge at either end that will attract other polar molecules or ions. Since oil is non-polar and has no charge it is not attracted to the polar ends of the vinegar.
The density is unimportant since you can easily mix alcohol and water. (If you mix one liter of water with one liter of alcohol, the mixture will add up to less than two liters)
I hope this helps.
2006-08-27 09:48:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
In reply to the person who wrote that oil and vinegar do mix (vinegrette), they will only mix if they are emulsified (usually with mustard).
Vinegar contains mostly water, and the rest is also hydrophilic, the oil is hydrophobic, so they repel each other. It has to do with the polarity of water molecules (water has a slight +ive charge on one side, and -ive on the other side). Oil is more neutral, and so doesn't like to be around the polar water.
2006-08-27 16:46:43 · answer #2 · answered by Loulabelle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure why people are giving you answers about oil and water when you asked about oil and vinegar....
Oil and vinegar have different physical properties (density, viscosity, molecular sizes, etc.) so they may emulsify but they will never actually mix: given time they will separate.
2006-08-27 16:42:49 · answer #3 · answered by idiot detector 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oil and vinegar do mix; that's what a viniagrette is.
I think you mean oil and water.
2006-08-27 16:41:23 · answer #4 · answered by Soda Popinski 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Oil and vinegar do not mix because one is polar(vinegar) and one is not (oil) They are insoluble in each other, but add an egg and mix and you have mayonnaise. the egg is an emulsifier.
2006-08-27 17:01:11 · answer #5 · answered by science teacher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
oil is hydrophobic
water is hyrdophilic
it's energetically favorable for the oil to bond with the water, but not favorable for the water so it doesn't mix.
by the way vinegar is dilute acetic acid in water. being that's it's at most 5% acetic acid it's mostly water.
2006-08-27 16:39:44 · answer #6 · answered by shiara_blade 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oil is organic and vinegar is inorganic. It is the physical properties of every organic and inorganic matter to be immiscible.
Organic chemicals never mix with inorganic chemicals.
2006-09-03 22:00:53 · answer #7 · answered by guddy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One had polar bobben molecules and the other has non-polar
Like dissolves like, and unlike cannot mix with unlike
2006-09-01 19:17:58 · answer #8 · answered by Steve P 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because oil is lighter in weight then water, there for it floats and water doesn't.
2006-08-27 16:38:57 · answer #9 · answered by perpetual_filth 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The easy answer...the size of the molecules.
Those will "mix" briefly, when shaken (like in salad dressing).
But they won't stay that way...
That's too 'in-depth' to answer on here!
:-)
2006-08-27 16:41:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋