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

39130 Views

See similar Chemistry GCSE tutors

Related Chemistry GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Describe the electrons in Benzene


A student places equal masses of limestone rocks into two beakers. However, the student crushes the ones in one of the beakers to make a fine powder. Then, he adds hydrochloric acid to both of them. Which takes longer? Would one of them produce more CO2?


Use the structure of sodium chloride to explain why it has a high melting point. (2 marks)


Explain why chlorine (Cl2) is a gas at room temperature, but sodium chloride (NaCl) is a solid at room temperature.


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:

© 2025 by IXL Learning