Asked by rebecca
Which best explains why MgCl2 dissolves in water (H2O)?
Water is polar and MgCl2 dissolves into ions in water
Water is nonpolar and MgCl2 dissolves into ions in water
Water has a greater density than MgCl2
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Answer: Water is polar and MgCl2 dissolves into ions in water.
Reason: MgCl2 is an ionic compound. Polar water molecules orient their partially negative oxygen toward Mg2+ and their partially positive hydrogens toward Cl−, creating strong ion–dipole (hydration) interactions that overcome the ionic lattice energy and pull the ions into solution:
MgCl2(s) → Mg2+(aq) + 2 Cl−(aq).
The other choices are incorrect: water is not nonpolar, and density has nothing to do with solubility here.
Reason: MgCl2 is an ionic compound. Polar water molecules orient their partially negative oxygen toward Mg2+ and their partially positive hydrogens toward Cl−, creating strong ion–dipole (hydration) interactions that overcome the ionic lattice energy and pull the ions into solution:
MgCl2(s) → Mg2+(aq) + 2 Cl−(aq).
The other choices are incorrect: water is not nonpolar, and density has nothing to do with solubility here.
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