What characteristics of an alcohol must be considered to determine whether or not the alcohol is soluble in water?
A) the molecular weight of the alcohol
B) the number of carbons in the alcohol
C) the number of hydroxyl groups in the molecule
D) the degree of branching of the molecule
E) both the number of carbons and the number of hydroxyl groups in the molecule

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The solubility of an alcohol in water is influenced by both the number of carbons (which affects the hydrophobic character of the molecule) and the number of hydroxyl groups (which can form hydrogen bonds with water, increasing solubility).

What Characteristics of an Alcohol Must Be Considered to Determine