13.4 Solubility Rules

Predicting solubility:

• Like dissolves like
• i.e. substances with similar polarity are soluble in each other
• Ionic/polar solutes – dissolve in polar solvents
• Nonpolar solutes – nonpolar solvents
• When solute and solvent have similar intermolecular forces they are soluble
• Example: NH3 (polar, H-bonding) is soluble in H2O (polar, H-bonding)
• Example: Oil (nonpolar, London forces) is not soluble in H2O (polar, hydrogen-bonding)