AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Polar substances are likely to dissolve in polar solvents. For example, ionic compounds, which are very polar, are often soluble in the polar solvent water. Nonpolar substances are likely to dissolve in nonpolar solvents.

Detailed explanation-2: -The rule of thumb is that “like dissolves like". Polar/ionic solvents dissolve polar/ionic solutes and non-polar solvents dissolve non-polar solutes. For example, water is a polar solvent and it will dissolve salts and other polar molecules, but not non-polar molecules like oil.

Detailed explanation-3: -Polar solvents will dissolve polar and ionic solutes because of the attraction of the opposite charges on the solvent and solute particles. Non-polar solvents will only dissolve non-polar solutes because they cannot attract the dipoles or the ions.

Detailed explanation-4: -Substances comprised of polar molecules tend to dissolve other substances comprised of polar molecules. In addition, substances comprised of highly polar molecules, like water, often dissolve ionic compounds.

Detailed explanation-5: -Generally, if all three of the intermolecular forces of attraction are roughly equal, the substances will be soluble in each other. This means that ionic or polar solutes dissolve in polar solvents, while non-polar solutes dissolve in non-polar solvents.