Intermolecular forces
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Which is more soluble in water, ethanol or ethanoic acid? Why?
Igloo replies
The simple answer is “neither”, because both ethanol and ethanoic acid are completely miscible (soluble) in water in all proportions.
However, when pure ethanoic acid is mixed with water to form a solution, more energy will be released to the surroundings than is the case with ethanol. This is because more new hydrogen bonds are formed (ethanoic acid has two relevant functional groups to interact with water –CO and –OH, whereas ethanol only has an –OH group).
Risk assessment
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updated: 12 May 2006
