Which of the following substances will dissolve in nonpolar solvents?

Prepare for the CLEP Chemistry Exam. Review detailed multiple-choice questions, each supplemented with hints and explanations to boost your readiness for the exam!

Nonpolar solvents are effective at dissolving nonpolar compounds due to the principle of "like dissolves like." This means that substances with similar properties, such as polarity, are more likely to dissolve in each other. Nonpolar compounds share similar intermolecular forces, primarily van der Waals forces, which allow them to interact favorably with nonpolar solvents.

When a nonpolar compound is introduced to a nonpolar solvent, the cohesive forces between the molecules of the solvent replace the intermolecular forces in the solute, allowing it to be solubilized. Conversely, ionic and polar compounds contain charged or partially charged regions, which do not interact well with nonpolar solvents. Ionic compounds, for example, tend to dissolve in polar solvents like water due to their ability to form ion-dipole interactions. Thus, nonpolar compounds are indeed the substances that will dissolve in nonpolar solvents.

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