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.

Answered by Kartika A. Chemistry tutor

34995 Views

See similar Chemistry GCSE tutors

Related Chemistry GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Describe and explain how changes in the earth atmosphere, from the Precambrian Era (where the earth as occupied by volcanoes), have changed to form the surface of the Earth today and its atmosphere.


During fractional distillation, what are we seperating and how are we seperating them?


16.4 g of Ca(OH)2 was reacted with HCl in a reaction. What was the expected mass of CaCl2, given the mass of the reactant Ca(OH)2 was 12.6 g? What is the percentage yield of the reaction? ( Give all answers to 3 significant figures)


What is the difference between an alkene and an alkane ?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences