Why would dry cleaners use nonpolar tetrachloroethylene, C2Cl4, to get cheeseburger grease out of your clothes?

Question

A.
It is a solvent.
B.
It is fat-soluble.
C.
It is water-soluble.
D.
It is a solute.
E.
It would not get out the grease.

Answer 1

The most appropriate answer is:

B. It is fat-soluble.

Tetrachloroethylene (C2Cl4), commonly used in dry cleaning, is a nonpolar solvent that effectively dissolves nonpolar substances like grease and oils. Since cheeseburger grease is primarily made up of fats, which are also nonpolar, tetrachloroethylene is effective at removing it from clothing.