Haloalkanes tend to dissolve in organic solvents because the new intermolecular attractions between haloalkanes and solvent molecules have similar strength to the attractions being broken in separate haloalkane and solvent molecules, leading to higher solubility in organic solvents.
In which type of solvents do haloalkanes tend to dissolve, and why is their solubility higher in organic solvents compared to water?
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Haloalkanes tend to dissolve better in organic solvents than in water. Their solubility is higher in non-polar or low-polarity organic solvents, such as hydrocarbons or chlorinated solvents. This is because haloalkanes are non-polar or weakly polar molecules due to the presence of C-X bonds (X = halogen). Organic solvents provide a favorable environment for these non-polar molecules by facilitating van der Waals interactions. In contrast, water, being a highly polar solvent, is less effective in dissolving non-polar haloalkanes. The difference in polarity and intermolecular forces contributes to the higher solubility of haloalkanes in organic solvents.