chemistry?

Question

when oil and water are mixed, thay never react whit each other. but when hydrogen gas and oxygen gas are mixed together, they can react to produce water. why do some substances react with each other, while othere do not?

Answer 1

water is polar covalent and oil is non-polar covalent. They do not mix.

hydrogen gas and oxygen gas are both non-polar covalent, but the fact that they are gases, allows the particles to mix. In any case, it takes a lot of energy for hydrogen and oxygen to react (a lightning strike for example)