At 25° C, benzoic acid is much more soluble in benzene (C6H6) than it is in water.
In this situation benzoic acid could be considered to be:
- A- Hydrophilic
- B- Colloidal
- C- Non-polar
- D- Polar
- E- Both A and D.
%20than%20it%20is%20in%20water.%20In%20this%20situation%20benzoic%20acid%20could%20be%20considered%20to%20be..%20Non-polar.jpg)
The correct answer is E- Both A and D.
Here's why:
- Hydrophilic:
This means "water-loving," and at 25°C, benzoic acid is not very soluble in water, so it cannot be considered purely hydrophilic. However, the carboxylic acid group (-COOH) in benzoic acid is polar, meaning it has a partially positive and negatively charged end due to the oxygen and hydrogen atoms. This polarity allows benzoic acid to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules to some extent, contributing to a small degree of solubility.
- Non-polar:
This means "not polar," which describes molecules with no or very little separation of charge. Benzene, on the other hand, is considered a non-polar molecule due to its symmetrical structure and equal sharing of electrons between carbon atoms.
- Polar:
As mentioned, benzoic acid does have a polar -COOH group, so it cannot be purely non-polar.
- Colloidal:
This refers to a mixture where one substance is dispersed throughout another in particles larger than molecules but smaller than the scale that can be seen with the naked eye. Benzoic acid in water or benzene doesn't fall under this category.
Therefore, the best classification for benzoic acid in this situation is both polar (due to the -COOH group) and hydrophilic to a small extent (due to its ability to form hydrogen bonds with water). However, its greater solubility in the non-polar benzene due to its similar electronic structure with benzene's aromatic ring also warrants consideration.
So, E- Both A and D is the most accurate answer.
