You are given an unknown substance and asked to determine whether it is polar or nonpolar.The easiest way to do this would be to
A) determine whether the compound is held together by hydrogen bonds.
B) determine the number of electrons in the compound's outer shell.
C) mix the compound with an ionic substance to see whether its bonds can withstand the pressure.
D) determine whether the compound dissolves in water.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The best way to determine whether a substance is polar or nonpolar is to see if it dissolves in water. Polar substances dissolve in water, while nonpolar substances do not. This is because water is a polar molecule and therefore can only dissolve other polar molecules. If the substance dissolves in water, it is polar. If it does not dissolve, it is nonpolar.

You Are Given an Unknown Substance and Asked to Determine