Why does HCl dissociate in water but not in methylbenzene?

Water is a polar solvent and methylbenzene is a non-polar solvent. A polar solvent will have positive and negative charge (in water, oxygen is slightly more negative and the hydrogen is slightly positive) whereas methylbenzene is netral throughout. HCl will dissociate in water because HCl is also a polar molecule (Cl is slightly negative and H is slightly positive). The Cl will be attracted to the slightly positive H in water and the H will be attracted to the slightly negative O in water. The HCl molecule will dissociate as a result because of these strong attractions. With methylbenzene, no such attraction exists, thus HCl will not dissociate.

KA

Related Chemistry GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Describe the effect in terms of particles and collisions the effect of increasing temperature on rate of reaction?


How does an increase in concentration affect the rate of reaction


Compare the advantages and disadvantages of using bioethanol over fossil fuels.


Explain in terms of structure and bonding why graphite conducts electricity.