Chemistry 11 · Chemistry · Lesson 8.4
Polar and nonpolar solvents
- Level
- Grade 11
- Reading time
- 9 min reading
- Review
- Last reviewed 2026-09-03
- Standard
- Accuracy standard
- Errata
Abstract
"Like dissolves like" and how ionic solids dissolve in water.
Concept preview
What you will be able to do
- 01State and apply the "like dissolves like" rule
- 02Explain why oil and water do not mix
- 03Predict whether a solute dissolves in a given solvent
Like dissolves like is a useful guide: polar solvents tend to dissolve many polar or ionic solutes, and nonpolar solvents tend to dissolve many nonpolar solutes. Solute-solute, solvent-solvent and solute-solvent attractions all matter. Solubility also depends on entropy, temperature and the amounts present, so matching polarity is not a guarantee and mismatched substances may have limited solubility.
School Plan
Polar and nonpolar solvents
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