Why do ionic compounds dissolve in water?

Answer 1

Well, for a start they don't all dissolve.

Some ionic crystals display considerable solubility in water. Water is a protic, dipolar solvent, i.e. #stackrel(delta+)H-stackrel(delta-)O-stackrel(delta+)H#, that can very efficiently solvate many ions. That is the solvent allows charge separation of anion and cation.

However, anions with more than the one unit electronic charge, i.e. oxides, phosphides, carbonates, sulfides, TEND to be quite insoluble. Anyway, chemistry is an experimental science, and you usually have to determine solubility by experiment.

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Answer 2

Since water molecules have a positive and a negative end, they can surround and separate the positive and negative ions in an ionic compound, causing the compound to dissolve. This is the reason why ionic compounds dissolve in water.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

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