Why is table salt, Nacl, soluble in ethanol, CH3OH, but not soluble in gasoline,C8H18?

Answer 1

NaCl can form ions Na+ and Cl- when in a solution of methanol (CH3OH) because of the OH group on the alcohol. OH contains a O2- and a H+ which in turn makes OH-. This charged group is attracted to the ions in NaCl causing the breakdown of Na + and Cl - ions in the solution. Similar to the reaction of NaCl in H2O. C8H18 has no charged groups so therefore we will not get the breakdown of NaCl into ions so they remain the solid salt.

Answer 2

Ethanol is polar (due to the OH group) and so will associate with the positive sodium ions and negative chlorine ions of NaCl. Ethanol can act like water (a polar molecule) and dissolve salt.

Gasoline is nonpolar and uncharged and so will not associate with the charged ions. This keeps salt from dissolving in gasoline.

Answer 3

CH3OH is a partial acid. It dissociates to form CH3O- and H+ ions. NaCl is of course a salt of a strong acid and a strong base. It readily dissociates to give Na+ and Cl- ions. When together, all these ions give CH3ONa, which is a pretty stable compound. Thats why NaCl readily dissolves in ethanol.
C8H18 is a carbohydrate and is itself pretty stable. It doesn't dissociate or dissolve anything ionic. It therefore can't dissolve NaCl.

Answer 4

first of all ethanol is CH3CH2OH
CH3OH is methanol.

Ethanol is not as polar as water but still it is quite polar. Therefore it can interact with and solvate the ions Na+ and Cl-
Gasoline consists of hydrophobic molecules which don't interact with polar or charged groups. Therefore the gasoline molecules interact with each other and cannot interact with Na+ or Cl- in order to break them away from the crystal lattice.

Answer 5

C8H18 is not a carbohydrate.