Infinite Solubility: Solving Ethanol in Water Without Limit

[onurbeyaz]

"The extent of solubility ranges widely, from infinitely soluble (without limit) (fully miscible[1]) such as ethanol in water, to poorly soluble, such as silver chloride in water." from wiki page of solubility

So does it mean that you can solve ethanol in water as much as you want? Even if ethanol is much more than water?

 

[onurbeyaz]

If the answer is yes, can I dissolve all the ethanol that exists in a cup of water

 

[Borek]

In a way that's what "miscible" means.

I would not call mixing of water and ethanol dissolution. Call it a personal preference. Also, whether after mixing cup of water with a pool of ethanol water is still a solvent (and not a solute) is something that can be questioned. Wording apart, yes, they can be mixed in any ratio, so the answer to both your questions is "yes".

 

[onurbeyaz]

Thanks for the answer

 

[LudusRex]

While ethanol is considered infinitely soluble in water, it is important to note that there are practical limitations to how much ethanol can actually be dissolved in water. These limitations are determined by factors such as temperature, pressure, and the presence of other solutes in the solution. Additionally, at very high concentrations, the solubility of ethanol in water may decrease due to the formation of a separate phase, such as an ethanol-rich layer on top of the water. Therefore, while ethanol may be considered infinitely soluble in water in theory, in practice there are limitations to how much can be dissolved.