Question

Why will ethanol dissolve in water and carbon tetrachloride will not?

Answer 1

Hint: We have to remember that if the hydrogen bonding is present between the molecules of a substance, which designates that the molecule is a polar molecule. Which implies, the molecule will dissolve in a polar solvent like water. The $O - H$ groups form the hydrogen bonding when it reacts with water molecules and there is a formation of stabilizing interaction. The hydrogen bonds are polar in nature. If intermolecular hydrogen bonding is present in the solute, the solubility will increase when it is reacted with polar solvent.

Complete answer:
We must know that ethyl alcohol is a chemical element having the symbol, \[C{H_3} - C{H_2}OH\]. It is able to interact with water by using hydrogen bonding and it is infinitely soluble in water. The lower alcohol is equal to half a water molecule. But the carbon tetrachloride is nonpolar in nature. Hence, it will not be soluble in water.
Therefore, we can say that the ethanol have able to adept hydrogen bonding. But the carbon tetrachloride was not able to adapt to the hydrogen bonding.

Note:
We need to know that if the energy is applied to an ionic compound, the ions will react with the water molecules and break the ionic bonds present in the solid. Then the ionic compounds become soluble in water. The ethanol dissolves in water but the carbon tetrachloride will not dissolve. And this is explained on the basis of hydrogen bonding present in the ethanol. But the carbon tetrachloride does not contain the hydrogen bonding. The ethanol molecules have the ability to interact with the water molecule by using their hydrogen bonding.