Chapter 8, Problem 43P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The reason behind the insolubility of cholesterol in water but solubility in ${\text{CCl}}_{\text{4}}$ should be explained.

Concept introduction:

The criteria to determine the solubility of a given solute in a particular solvent is governed by the principle of "like dissolves like" which means that the polar solvents such as water and alcohols tend to dissolve polar compounds while the non-polar solvents like hexane and urea dissolve covalent or non-polar compounds. Several forces are responsible for solubility of various compounds. For example, the sodium chloride solution is held by electrostatic forces of interaction. Small polar molecules such as ethanol that are uncharged dissolved in water via hydrogen bonding interactions.

Water is a polar solvent as it contains highly electronegative oxygen atom and electropositive hydrogen atoms. Therefore the ionic solids and some polar molecules which are relatively small can dissolve in water.