Carboxylic acids up to four carbon atoms are completely miscible with water because
- A. they ionise completely
- B. they are non polar
- C. the carboxyl group forms hydrogen bonds with water molecules
- D. they react with water chemically
Explanation
Both the carbonyl oxygen and the hydroxyl hydrogen can take part in hydrogen bonding with water, so the smaller acids dissolve freely, and solubility then falls as the hydrocarbon chain grows and dominates the molecule. Complete ionisation is not the reason, since these are weak acids only slightly dissociated in solution. Dissolving is a physical process, not a chemical reaction.
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