Question

Why are ionic compounds soluble in water but insoluble in kerosene?

Answer 1

Hint: The compounds consisting of oppositely charged ions held together by strong electrostatic intermolecular forces are known as ionic compounds. These are generally formed when an electropositive element i.e., metal reacts with an electronegative element i.e., nonmetal. An example of ionic compound is sodium chloride which is chemically represented as $NaCl$.

Complete answer:
The water molecules consist of high dielectric constants because water as a solvent opposes the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions i.e., positively charged ions and negatively charged ions and thus cause an ionic compound to dissociate into respective ions when dissolved in water. Hence, ionic compounds are soluble in water.
Kerosene is a nonpolar solvent which has a tendency to dissolve nonpolar covalent compounds only. Nonpolar solvents experience intermolecular forces too but because there is no strong separation of charge within a nonpolar molecule, these forces are too weak to break the strong electrostatic force of attraction acting between the atoms in a covalent compound. Hence, the ionic compounds are not soluble in nonpolar solvent like kerosene and cyclohexane.
Therefore, we can conclude that ionic compounds are soluble in water but insoluble in kerosene or in nonpolar solvents.

Note:
It is important to note that when ionic compounds are dissolved in polar solvents like water, they compound gets dissociated into respective ions which are mobile or free to move within the solution. Hence, ionic compounds in their molten state or in solution tend to conduct electricity and the conductivity increases on increasing the ionic character of the compound.