Of course you are talking about higher weight alcohols, not CH3OH or C2H5OH, which are completely miscible with water. However CH2Cl2 is not as polar as water so it mix better than water with organic compounds.birdstudyphys said:I was working on my chem lab, this question occurred to me. Water and dichloromethane are both polar molecule. However, dichloromethane is able to mix with alcohols much better than water. Is there a polarity difference that caused the miscibility to be different?
Dichloromethane, also known as methylene chloride, is widely used as an organic solvent due to its high solubility for a variety of organic compounds. It is also relatively inexpensive and has a low boiling point, making it easy to remove from the final product.
Dichloromethane is a polar aprotic solvent, meaning it has a dipole moment but does not participate in hydrogen bonding. This allows it to dissolve a wide range of polar and nonpolar organic compounds, making it suitable for a variety of reactions.
While dichloromethane is an effective solvent, it is also considered a hazardous chemical. It can cause irritation to the skin, eyes, and respiratory system, and should be handled with caution in a laboratory setting. Proper personal protective equipment and ventilation should be used when working with this solvent.
Dichloromethane can often be substituted for other organic solvents such as chloroform, ethyl acetate, and diethyl ether. However, it is important to consider the specific properties and reactivity of each solvent before making a substitution.
One potential drawback of using dichloromethane is its relatively low boiling point of 40°C. This can result in the solvent evaporating too quickly during reactions, leading to a decrease in reaction efficiency. Additionally, dichloromethane is known to be a volatile organic compound and can contribute to air pollution, so its use should be minimized when possible.