When dissolving, do polar solutes generally prefer to interact with polar solvents or nonpolar solvents?

• A. Polar solutes cannot dissolve in any solvent.
• B. Polar solutes interact equally well with both polar and nonpolar solvents.
• C. Polar solutes prefer to interact with polar solvents due to similar intermolecular forces.
• D. Polar solutes prefer to interact with nonpolar solvents because they disrupt dipole-dipole interactions.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the principle of 'like dissolves like,' which means substances with similar polarity tend to dissolve in each other because they have similar types of intermolecular forces.
2. Recognize that polar solutes have permanent dipole moments and engage in dipole-dipole interactions and hydrogen bonding, which are types of strong intermolecular forces.
3. Recall that polar solvents also have permanent dipoles and can form strong intermolecular interactions with polar solutes, facilitating dissolution.
4. Contrast this with nonpolar solvents, which primarily exhibit London dispersion forces and lack permanent dipoles, making them less effective at interacting with polar solutes.
5. Conclude that polar solutes generally prefer to interact with polar solvents because the similar intermolecular forces allow the solute molecules to be stabilized in solution.