Which of the following molecules is more soluble in water: acetone, acetic acid, diethyl ether or hexane? Justify your selection with an argument based on intermolecular forces.

Acetic acid.

Explanation:

Hexane which is a member of the alkane group is not soluble in water.

This is because individual water molecules do not form hydrogen bonds with the hydrogen present. Also as the chain (number of carbon atoms), increase, the solubiluty decreases)

Carboxylic acids of low molar mass are quite soluble in water. Acetic acid ehich is a member of the carboxylic acids form hydrogen bonds with its 2 oxygen atoms and also its hydrogen atom each with different individual molecules of water.

Ether is non-polar. Ethers are very slightly soluble in water at around 6.8g/100g. This is due to the presence of oxygen in ethers which interact with hydrogen in water to produce H-bonding to make it slightly soluble.