What are the principles behind it? Like Dissolves Like When it comes to explaining or determining solubility of solvents, we use a helpful phrase that goes like this: Like dissolves Like. This statement indicates that a solute will dissolve best in a solvent that has a similar chemical structure to itself. I was wondering why is it that like solvents dissolve like solutes? For example it says polar molecules will dissolve polar molecules and non-polar molecules will dissolve non-polar molecules? Also, how do non-polar molecules dissolve non-polar molecules? When a solute dissolves in a solvent the individual particles of the solute separate from their neighbours and move between the spaces of the solvent particles. This means that substances are more likely to dissolve in other substances with similar chemical properties. This is a bit like the old slogan “Safety is no accident”. The usual and simplistic divide is to categorize materials as polar or non-polar. Why do each of them form homogeneous solutions? For example, why doesn't a polar molecule dissolve a non-polar molecule. For something to dissolve it must not only lose the bonds it has between its own particles, but it must also break the bonds the solvent has between solvent particles. 'Like dissolves like' is a good rule of thumb, but should be approached with care. Polar solvents dissolve polar solutes....of course there is a catch... Polar solvents TEND to dissolve polar solutes....and non-polar solvents TEND to dissolve non-polar solutes...but this is a VERY general rule of thumb. The quick answer is that “Like dissolves like”. Well, this is where chemistry gets a little tricky, becomes a 'case by case' study, and starts having more exceptions to a rule than anything else. The types of intermolecular forces dictate these results. Specifically, polar solvents tend to dissolve polar solutes, and non-polar solvents tend to dissolve non-polar solutes, while non-polar and polar substances are Immiscible (do not mix). when passing a non-polar aqueous solution through a filter of the highly non-polar silica c-18 hydrocarbon, why will it favor the association with the silica? Can Someone Explain Why the "Like Dissolves Like" Chemistry Solubility Rule Works Like I Am 5. basically, what is the chemical principle behind the theory of "Like dissolves Like" this is in regards to a Liquid Chromatography experiment with grape koolaid and the aforementioned silica c-18 hydrocarbon. This view is … 2 comments. It is most often used when discussing polar and nonpolar solvents. Thanks! Question 7 Based on the "like dissolves like" principle, please explain why the product you identified as not homogeneous has two different layers. The rule states that polar solutes will dissolve in polar solvents and non-polar solutes will dissolve in non-polar solvents. A popular aphorism used for predicting solubility is "like dissolves like" also expressed in the Latin language as "Similia similibus solventur". If the Gibbs free energy change of a process is negative then the process is likely to happen. Shouldn't it be that different molecules attract to eachother. share. like dissolves like. Why does this rule exist and how does it work? Hexane has a six carbon chain and is nonpolar. Once you know what makes two (or more) substances “likes”, the answer is self-evident. Polar compounds dissolve in polar compounds and nonpolar dissolve in nonpolar. These examples illustrate what is meant by the comment "like dissolves like". As with most systems, this one will try to minimize its total energy. > Why is this so? How about the other two products? Chemists say that ‘like dissolves like,’ meaning that substances with similar chemical characteristics will dissolve in each other. This means that polar molecules will dissolve polar molecules, and non-polar molecules will dissolve with non-polar molecules. Why does like dissolves like? Question 8 See the information in Question 6 of the Makeup Remover pdf file opened in the first step of this assignment. Polar substances tend to dissolve in polar solvents, and nonpolar substances dissolve in nonpolar solvents. And here when we say "polar" we mean "charge-separated".