Which statement best describes how the solubility of NaCl is affected by the choice of solvent?

• A. NaCl is equally soluble in both polar and nonpolar solvents.
• B. NaCl is insoluble in all solvents.
• C. NaCl is highly soluble in water but has low solubility in nonpolar solvents like hexane.
• D. NaCl dissolves only in organic solvents.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the nature of NaCl: Sodium chloride (NaCl) is an ionic compound composed of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions.
2. Recall the principle 'like dissolves like': Polar solvents tend to dissolve polar or ionic substances well, while nonpolar solvents dissolve nonpolar substances.
3. Recognize that water is a highly polar solvent with a strong ability to stabilize ions through ion-dipole interactions, which promotes the dissolution of ionic compounds like NaCl.
4. Note that nonpolar solvents such as hexane lack the polarity needed to interact effectively with the charged ions in NaCl, resulting in very low solubility.
5. Conclude that NaCl is highly soluble in polar solvents like water but has low solubility in nonpolar solvents like hexane, making the statement about its solubility in water versus nonpolar solvents the best description.