Determining which Nonpolar Solute most likely to be soluble in nonpolar solvent

[cncbmb]

1. Which of the following substances is most likely to be soluble in a nonpolar solvent?

a. glucose
b. graphite
c. sulfur
d. lithium fluoride

Homework Equations

Is there a way to figure out which of the nonpolar molecules above would most likely be soluble using the structure of the substances?

The Attempt at a Solution

Lithium fluoride is ionic so it is polar so it cannot be it. Glucose does not appear to have perfect symmetry so I assumed that it was slightly polar. Sulfur and graphite are pure elements, and I don't understand why sulfur would more likely to be soluble in nonpolar solvent. Ksp seems useless here since we are not dealing with ionic compounds.

 

[GCT]

Except graphite is carbon and so are nonpolar solvents.

 

[Blueshift5]

Based on the information provided, it is likely that graphite would be the most soluble in a nonpolar solvent. This is because graphite is a pure carbon element and has a symmetrical, nonpolar structure. Nonpolar solvents are attracted to nonpolar molecules, so the nonpolar bonds in graphite would allow it to dissolve easily in a nonpolar solvent. Glucose, on the other hand, has polar bonds and a less symmetrical structure, making it less likely to dissolve in a nonpolar solvent. Sulfur is also a pure element, but it has a slightly polar structure due to the presence of sulfur-sulfur bonds. Therefore, it would not be as soluble in a nonpolar solvent as graphite. Overall, the structure and polarity of a substance play a significant role in determining its solubility in different solvents.