How do covalent compounds dissolve

Water molecules are attracted to each other by strong H-bonds. A polar solute may be attracted to the water molecules as strongly as the water molecules are attracted to each other. It should contain a highly electronegative atom such as N or O or, even better, an N-H or an O-H bond, because they can form H-bonds to the water molecules. It will then be able to work its way among the water molecules dissolve. Sugar and ethanol are covalent compounds that are soluble in water, because they contain O-H groups that can H-bond to the water.

Its molecules have little attraction to each other or to the water molecules. The ionic solution turns into an electrolyte, meaning it can conduct electricity. When covalent compounds dissolve in water they break apart into molecules, but not individual atoms. Water is a polar solvent, but covalent compounds are usually nonpolar. This means covalent compounds typically don't dissolve in water, instead making a separate layer on the water's surface.

Sugar is one of the few covalent compounds that does dissolve in water because it is a polar covalent compound i. Oil is a non-polar covalent compound, which is why it doesn't dissolve in water. Claire is a writer and editor with 18 years' experience. She writes about science and health for a range of digital publications, including Reader's Digest, HealthCentral, Vice and Zocdoc.

Learning Objective Identify element pairs which are likely to form ionic or covalent bonds. Key Points Ionic compounds are formed from strong electrostatic interactions between ions, which result in higher melting points and electrical conductivity compared to covalent compounds. Covalent compounds have bonds where electrons are shared between atoms.

Due to the sharing of electrons, they exhibit characteristic physical properties that include lower melting points and electrical conductivity compared to ionic compounds. Show Sources Boundless vets and curates high-quality, openly licensed content from around the Internet.

Licenses and Attributions. CC licensed content, Shared previously. How do you take your coffee? CK Foundation — Christopher Auyeung. Summary Motion of water molecules helps break up interactions between solid ions or molecules. Solvation involves surrounding ions with solvent particles. Ionic solute molecules are hydrated surrounded by solvent molecules in a specific orientation. Does the hydration process require energy or release energy? Does the distribution of solvent-solute clusters require energy or release energy?

Review How does the motion of water molecules help form a solution? What is solvation? What is hydration?