When two hydrocarbon molecules (such as hexane), initially dissolved in water, come together to form an aggregate in water, two of the following are true.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The aggregation of hydrocarbon molecules in water is driven by hydrophobic interactions, leading to a decrease in the system's free energy (ΔG° < 0) as the system moves towards a more thermodynamically stable state. This process is also associated with an increase in entropy (TΔS° > 0) because it results in a net decrease in the structured water molecules around the hydrophobic tails, thus increasing the overall disorder of the system.

When Two Hydrocarbon Molecules (Such as Hexane), Initially Dissolved in Water