In the lab you choose to design a simple experiment to disti

In the lab, you choose to design a simple experiment to distinguish between hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances. You start by adding equal amounts of vinegar and oil to a container. After shaking, the vinegar and oil levels separate, based upon polarity and density. To this you add glucose and sodium citrate and shake again. Where do you expect to find the glucose and sodium citrate in greatest quantities? i want to know the answer but also how/why you got it.

Solution

Hi,

The solubility of any solute depends on the polaity of the solvent. The hydrophilic solutes such as glucose or sugar dissolve in polar solvents like water. Hydrophobic substances on the other had form aggregates and do not dissolve in water. They do however dissolve in organic solvents.

In this case, the vinegar and oil are two immescible liquids. Vinegar is like water it can dissolve hydrophilic sbstances. the oil cannot dissolve hydrophilic molecules. The Glucose and sodium citrate are both hydrophilic in nature, means they both dissolve in water and not in organic liquids.

So, when you add glucose and sodium citrate to the mixture of vinegar and oil, both the solutes dissolve in VIngar and not in oil.