Which of the following best explains why oil is insoluble in water?

• A. Oil molecules are nonpolar and cannot form hydrogen bonds with water molecules.
• B. Oil molecules are ionic and repel water molecules.
• C. Oil molecules have stronger London dispersion forces than water molecules, causing them to dissolve.
• D. Oil molecules are polar and readily dissolve in water due to dipole-dipole interactions.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of solubility: 'Like dissolves like' means that polar solvents dissolve polar solutes, and nonpolar solvents dissolve nonpolar solutes.
2. Recognize that water is a polar molecule capable of forming hydrogen bonds, which are strong intermolecular forces between water molecules.
3. Identify that oil molecules are primarily nonpolar, meaning they lack significant partial charges and cannot form hydrogen bonds with water.
4. Explain that because oil molecules are nonpolar, they do not interact favorably with polar water molecules, leading to immiscibility (insolubility).
5. Conclude that the best explanation is that oil molecules are nonpolar and cannot form hydrogen bonds with water molecules, which is why oil is insoluble in water.