Haloalkanes have low solubility in water because energy is required to overcome attractions between haloalkane molecules and break hydrogen bonds in water. The new attractions between haloalkanes and water molecules are weaker than the original hydrogen bonds in water, resulting in low solubility.
Why are haloalkanes generally slightly soluble in water, and what factor contributes to their low solubility in aqueous solutions?
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Haloalkanes are generally slightly soluble in water due to their polar covalent C-X (X = halogen) bonds, which result in some polarity within the molecule. However, their low solubility is mainly attributed to the presence of the hydrophobic alkane portion of the molecule, which repels water molecules. Water’s strong hydrogen bonding tendencies prefer interactions with themselves rather than with non-polar or weakly polar molecules like haloalkanes. This hydrophobic effect, driven by the tendency of water molecules to minimize interactions with non-polar substances, contributes to the low solubility of haloalkanes in aqueous solutions.