Question

Non-polar solvent is
(A) Dimethyl Sulphoxide
(B) Carbon tetrachloride
(C) Ammonia
(D) Ethyl alcohol

Answer 1

Hint: A solvent is a substance in which a solute is dissolved to form a solution. It can be a solid or liquid. The solvents are of two types: polar and nonpolar. A polar molecule dissolves in a polar solvent and a nonpolar molecule dissolves in a nonpolar solvent.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
Among the given options, carbon tetrachloride ($CC{{l}_{4}}$) has a symmetrical nature. It contains four dipoles, from carbon to chlorine. But all the dipoles cancel out the effect of each other, resulting in a zero dipole moment. Thus, carbon tetrachloride is a non-polar solvent. Any non-polar molecule can be dissolved in it.
Correct Option: (B) Carbon tetrachloride.

Additional Information: A bond is said to be polar when there is an electronegativity difference between the two atoms of the bond. A polar bond possesses a dipole moment. However, if the two atoms have the same electronegativity or a negligible electronegativity difference, then the bond does not possess the dipole moment. The dipole moment is always from a more electronegative element to a less electronegative element. It is a vector quantity, which has both magnitude and direction.

Note: Dimethyl sulfoxide, also known as DMSO, has a dipole moment of 3.96 D. Ammonia is a polar molecule. It has three dipoles from hydrogen to nitrogen, which add up to give a dipole moment. Ethanol is a polar solvent with a dipole moment of 1.69 D. All these molecules are polar.