Oil spilled into the ocean does not easily disperse, but rather clumps into an oil slick. Which of the following explains why this occurs?
A) Oil is composed mainly of hydrophilic molecules.
B) Oil is composed mainly of nonpolar molecules.
C) Oil has no hydrogen in its molecular structure, so it can't form hydrogen bonds with water.
D) Water is hydrophobic.
E) Electrons are shared unequally between carbon and hydrogen atoms.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Oil is composed mainly of nonpolar molecules, which means they are not attracted to the polar molecules in water. This causes the oil molecules to clump together, forming an oil slick.

Oil Spilled into the Ocean Does Not Easily Disperse, but Rather