What happens during non-polar solvation (if there is such a thing)?

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Non-polar solvents dissolve non-polar solutes due to favorable interactions at the molecular level. The principle of "like dissolves like" explains that non-polar solvents have similar molecular characteristics to non-polar solutes, allowing for effective interactions. These interactions create solvent-solute 'bonds' that facilitate the solute's integration into the solvent, resulting in the solute being completely surrounded and dissolved by the solvent molecules. This process highlights the importance of molecular compatibility in solubility.
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I've found plenty of information on polar solvents and how they work, so I understand that. But, according to like-dissolves-like, non-polar solvents dissolve non-polar solutes: how?
 
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So you mean why do non-polar solvents not dissolve polar solutes?
 
qalomel said:
So you mean why do non-polar solvents not dissolve polar solutes?

Not really: I understand that.
I want to know why non-polar solvents DO dissolve non-polar solutes.
 
Non-polar solvents do dissolve non-polar solutes because there are enough interactions between them. So on the molecular level, I think of it as solvent-solute 'bonds' forming until the solute molecules are completely surrounded by solvent molecules, pulling the solute into solution.
 
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