why would ethanol dissovle in water? and carbon tetrachloride will not?

Answer 1

Most important factor is the similarities between ethanol and water. Both are polar molecules, like stated above. But, more importantly, both have the ability to create a strong hydrogen bonding force with similar molecules.

Notice the structures. Ethanol is like water except one of the H's of water has been replaced by C2H5. Because they are so similar, they are able to form the same attractions with each other as they were with themselves.

On the other hand, carbon tetrachloride is symmetric and nonpolar. Its intermolecular forces are not at all similar to those of water. Carbon tetrachloride is an excellent nonpolar solvent, or it could be dissolved in other nonpolar solvents such as n-hexane.

Answer 2

Ethanol is polar because of the hydroxl group. This is like water which is a polar solvent. Carbon tetrachloride is not polar.

Answer 3

A very elementary definition of the solvation process is that like dissolves like. So if you know anything about hydrogen bonding you know that it occurs in N, O, and F only. Cl is not one of these molecules. Since water can't make hydrogen bonds with chlorine it cannot solvate it. However, the oxygen present in ethanol can partake in hydrogen bonding. Note, that in alcohols as the hydrocarbon chain expands the alchols become less and less soluble in water. So ethanol is more soluble than propanol which is more soluble than butanol>pentanol>hexanol>heptanol, etc.

Answer 4

Like dissolves like:
water and ethanol are both polar
carbon tetrachloride is non-polar

Answer 5

Ethanol is polar and can also hydrogen bond with water, while carbon tet is non-polar and has no possibility of forming hydrogen bonds.

Answer 6

molecular structure issue.