Why does eugenol and d-limonene dissolve in dichloromethane?

Answer 1

Eugenol and d-limonene dissolve in dichloromethane because of their similar polarities and because of the "like dissolves like" principle.

Eugenol and d-limonene are both considered to be relatively nonpolar molecules due to the presence of hydrocarbon chains and aromatic rings in their molecular structures. In contrast, dichloromethane is a somewhat polar solvent, with a polarity in between that of nonpolar solvents, like hexane, and more polar solvents, like water.

Since eugenol and d-limonene are not very polar, they do not dissolve well in highly polar solvents, such as water. However, they do dissolve in less polar solvents like dichloromethane, where their nonpolar (hydrophobic) regions can interact with the nonpolar regions of dichloromethane via van der Waals forces, also known as dispersion forces or London forces. These intermolecular forces allow the solute and solvent to mix and dissolve more easily. In summary, eugenol and d-limonene dissolve in dichloromethane due to their similar polarities and the favorable interactions between the solute and solvent molecules.