Question

Rank the given solvents in decreasing order of their ability to dissolve each compound

(a) HCOO^-Na⁺

(b)

(c)

Solvents

Ethyl ether, water, ethanol, dichloromethane

Short answer

(1) Decreasing order of solvents’ ability to dissolve sodium acetate:

Water >ethanol > ethyl ether>dichloromethane

(2) Decreasing order of solvents’ ability to dissolve 2-methylnapthalene:

Dichloromethane >ethyl ether >ethanol >water

(3) Decreasing order of solvents’ ability to dissolve 1-napthol:Dichloromethane>ethyl ether>ethanol>water

Step-by-step solution

Solubility of sodium acetate

The general principle followed to determine solubility is,“like dissolves like.”

Compounds which have similar polarity tend to get dissolve in each other. Thus,

sodium acetate which is ionic and most polar out of the three solutes given, will dissolve

in water which is most polar out of the given solvents. Sodium acetate will dissolve

slightly in ethanol and will be insoluble in ethyl ether and dichloromethane

Solubility of 2-methylnaphthalene and 1-naphthol

2-methylnapthalene and 1-napthol are non-polar; and out of the given solvents,

ethyl ether and dichloromethane are non-polar. Thus, 2-methylnapthalene and 1-napthol will be insoluble in water, partially soluble in ethanol, and soluble in diethyl ether

and dichloromethane