MHB Why Does Cyclohexane Float on Water When Its Molecular Mass is Higher?

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Cyclohexane floats on water due to its lower density, despite having a higher molecular mass. Water's molecular structure allows for strong hydrogen bonding, resulting in a higher density compared to cyclohexane. The density of water is approximately 1 g/cm³, while cyclohexane has a density of about 0.79 g/cm³. This difference in density is the primary reason cyclohexane remains on the surface of water. Understanding these properties is crucial for grasping the behavior of different substances in mixtures.
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Why does cyclohexane float on water.? When I add up their relative molecular masses water has a lower value than cyclohexane?
 
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markosheehan said:
Why does cyclohexane float on water.? When I add up their relative molecular masses water has a lower value than cyclohexane?

Floating occurs when the mass density is lower.
So even though water consists of smaller molecules with less mass (10 versus 84 g/mol), water still has a greater density.
What could the difference be?
For the record, this topic also came up in http://mathhelpboards.com/other-topics-22/ethanol-water-21217.html of yours.
 
its to do with the hydrogen bonding .
thanks
 

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