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Why are organic compounds insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents?
Can you explain to me why organic compounds are insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents?
Sure! Organic compounds are molecules consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms bonded together. They are nonpolar molecules, which means that their electrons are distributed evenly throughout the molecule, resulting in no significant charge separation. Water is a polar molecule, meaning that it has a positive and negative end. The polar nature of water causes it to form hydrogen bonds with other polar molecules, but not with nonpolar organic compounds. Organic solvents, on the other hand, are nonpolar and can dissolve nonpolar organic compounds through van der Waals forces and other nonpolar interactions.