2007-11-12 02:30:08 · 6 answers · asked by chaitali 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Botany
In a word ... electronegativity. The further to the right on the periodic table the more electronegative an element is, in the case of H2O ... The Oxygen is bonded to two hydrogens ... the oxygen is more electronegative than Hydrogen and therefore has a slight (-) charge while the Hydrogens have a slight (+) charge. the "Polar" effect is because the hydrogens bond to the oxygen at an angle of about 105 degrees making the molecule appear triangle shaped ... this is why snowflakes appear hexagonal, because the Oxygen is "bonded" (called a Hydrogen Bond") to the Hydrogen by this weak +/- bond.
On The other hand the C6H6 (benzene) is a circle with the carbons attached to each other with covalent bonds (every other bond is a double or single) with the hydrogens attached to one carbon each on the outside of the circle... the rules of electronegativity still apply, but in this case all of the hydrogen are on the exterior while the carbons are on the interior. Thus all the (-) charge is directed inwards and the molecule has no (+/-) end.
So to wrap up ... Water is polar and can thus dissolve other polar items (salt and sugar) while benzene is non polar and dissolves in other non polar substances (gasoline, cooking oil)
The expression "Water and Oil don't mix" is because of their polarity.
Also when looking for clues to polar substances ... if the molecule has an -OH group, there is a very good chance it's polar
2007-11-12 02:53:24 · answer #1 · answered by Steve S 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
what is polar, non polar solvent?why H2O is polar & C6H6 is non polar?
2015-08-10 10:52:40 · answer #2 · answered by Danell 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What Is Polar
2016-10-05 02:28:24 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
polar = + at one end, - at the other (2 poles).
non-polar = even charge distribution across the molecule.
H2O is like the Enterprise, with the - charge at the captain's seat (oxygen), and the + charges on the engine nacelles (hydrogens)...
Benzene is a ring with the electrons, and therefore the charge, evenly distributed around the ring. No matter where you are on the ring, it's the same as any other spot on the ring.
2007-11-12 03:55:45 · answer #4 · answered by John R 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
if any solvent... break any + and - pole having particals like Nacl (sodium cloride "salt") its called polar solvent. and if any solvent can not do it.. its called non polar solvent..
H2o is a polar solvent. becouse it has ability to break tha Nacl like camicals... but C6H6 can't do it..
ok
2007-11-12 03:01:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
polar compounds are covalent compounds formed between to elements of different electro negativity
2007-11-13 01:32:57 · answer #6 · answered by divya 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋