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
Answered by Kartika A. Chemistry tutor

40170 Views

See similar Chemistry GCSE tutors

Related Chemistry GCSE answers

All answers ▸

What are the different types of bonding?


What is a mole


A sample of the ore haematite contains 70% iron oxide. Calculate the amount of iron oxide in 2000 tonnes of haematite.


How does the structure of benzene differ from the pre-assumed structure of 1,3,5-cyclohexatriene? *Kekule's structure*


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning