In two to five sentences, describe the process by which the ionic compound, LiCl, would dissolve in the polar solvent, CH3COCH3.
1 answer
When LiCl is added to the polar solvent CH3COCH3, the solvent molecules surround the Li+ and Cl- ions due to their opposite charges. The polar solvent molecules have partial positive and negative charges which attract the ions and help break the ionic bonds in LiCl. As a result, the Li+ and Cl- ions become surrounded and separated by the solvent molecules, effectively dissolving the LiCl in CH3COCH3.