Is CH3OH soluble in water?
Answers
Explanation:
Methanol is soluble in water or to be more precise, we can say that methanol is miscible (mixes completely) in water. This is possible mainly because of hydrogen bonding. Let us understand how it occurs.
If we take Methanol (CH3OH), it has a strong hydrogen bonding force acting between its molecules. Now when we add methanol to water, the superior intermolecular force acting between the molecules will also be H−Bonding.
Now, if we consider the general rule of Like-Dissolves-Like, these ether and water will dissolve in or mix with each other easily as both are capable of H−Bonding. Basically, the attraction between methanol and water is so strong that it is enough to overcome the water-water and methanol-methanol intermolecular forces of attraction.
To explain further, if we look at methanol or other alcohols, it consists of a nonpolar carbon chain and a polar OH group. If we write the chemical formula of methanol it will look like; CH3OH. Ethanol has a carbon chain and an OH group. The nature of water is that since it is polar it will attract the OH group. Meanwhile, the carbon chain will be repelled. What we can state here is that the solubility of methanol is determined by the stronger of the two forces. Name
Formula
Solubility
Butanol
C4H9OH
0.11
Pentanol
C5H11OH
0.030
Hexanol
C6H13OH
0.0058
Heptanol
C7H15OH
0.0008
Methanol
CH3OH
miscible
Ethanol
C2H5OH
miscible
Propanol
C3H7OH
miscible