How does a non polar solute become soluble and insoluble in a non-polar solvent?

Question

Wyatt Adkins · Accepted Answer

By exploiting a temperature gradient...?

Typically, when we recrystallize a solute, we want to take it up in a MINIMUM of solvent (and I don't specify the solvent...) And typically we apply a heat source, i.e. a heat gun, or a heating mantle, to bring the solute up into solution. And when the stuff is up in solution, we ideally slowly cool the hot solution, and hopefully upon cooling the solute will crystallize out....the slower the cooling process, generally the large the crystals obtained. And I have seen some people taking a lagged solution (so that it COOLS slowly) and putting this in the refrigerator/freezer to cool slowly... In other circumstances, we COULD layer a concentrated solution of the solute, and LAYER this with a solvent in which the solute is INSOLUBLE. On standing, as the layers SLOWLY mix, crystals might appear on the interface..

Naomi Aronson · Answer

undefined A nonpolar solute can become soluble in a nonpolar solvent through dispersion forces, also known as London dispersion forces or Van der Waals forces. These forces arise from temporary dipoles induced in molecules due to fluctuations in electron distribution. When a nonpolar solute is added to a nonpolar solvent, the dispersion forces between solute and solvent molecules can overcome the forces holding the solute together, allowing it to dissolve.

Conversely, a nonpolar solute may become insoluble in a nonpolar solvent if the interactions between solute molecules are stronger than the interactions between solute and solvent molecules. In such cases, the solute molecules tend to remain clustered together rather than dispersing in the solvent.