Why oil and water do not mix?

bgq

Hi,

Why do oil and water not mix? We know that some liquids mix together while others not, I am looking for the reason of this.

Thanks to any replies

mfb

Polarity

The attraction between two water molecules is much stronger than the attraction of a water molecule and an oil molecule (or two oil molecules), so they tend to stay together.

You can mix them with soap (as a simplified model, long molecules where one side is attracted by water molecules and the other sticks to oil molecules).

bgq

Thank you very much.

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bgq	Why oil and water do not mix? Tweet Hi, Why do oil and water not mix? We know that some liquids mix together while others not, I am looking for the reason of this. Thanks to any replies

mfb Mentor	Polarity The attraction between two water molecules is much stronger than the attraction of a water molecule and an oil molecule (or two oil molecules), so they tend to stay together. You can mix them with soap (as a simplified model, long molecules where one side is attracted by water molecules and the other sticks to oil molecules).