Question

Rank the following by their miscibility in
C10H22 (decane), from least miscible to
most: H2O (water), C9H20 (nonane), CH3OH
(methanol), CH3CH2OH (ethanol).
1. CH3OH < CH3CH2OH < C9H20 < H2O
2. H2O < CH3OH < CH3CH2OH < C9H20
3. H2O < CH3CH2OH < CH3OH < C9H20
4. C9H20 < H2O < CH3OH < CH3CH2OH
5. CH3OH < C9H20 < CH3CH2OH < H2O

Answer 1

Answer:

2. H2O < CH3OH < CH3CH2OH < C9H20

Explanation:

Decane is a hydrocarbon so it is a non-polar molecule. Non-polar molecules are soluble in non-polar molecules and polar molecules are soluble in polar molecules. Water is a polar molecule so it is least soluble in decane molecule and $C_{9}H_{20}$ is a non-polar molecule so it is most soluble in decane molecule. Methanol and ethanol are the derivatives of hydrocarbon so they have more solubility than water but less solubility than nonane molecules.