Question

What types of intermolecular forces allow CO2 to dissolve in water? Do CO2 and H20 have a relatively strong or weak attraction?

Answer 1

Water is a dipole and the negative end of the H2O dipole is attracted by the O end of CO2 (although CO2 has no net dipole because of its symmetry). The bond between H2O and CO2 isn't very strong because a) H2CO3 is a weak acid and b)left out in the open (uncapped), a saturated solution of CO2 in water will go flat (think soft drink going flat).

Answer 2

what happens at the molecular level if the temperature of a CO2/H2O solution increases? I know that has the temp. goes up the solubility decreases, but i don't really know what that means.

Answer 3

At best the molecular bonding between water and CO2 is small. As the temperature is increased the molecules of both solvent and solute increase and the increased activity of the molecules is enough to lessen those already weak bonds; therefore, the solubility of the gas is less in hot water than in cold water

Answer 4

Thanks so much for the help.