Question

Determine the solubility of lipids in the following solvents as "insoluble" or "soluble"; "miscible" or "immiscible":

1) Corn oil in water:

2) Corn oil in alcohol:

3) Corn oil in CH₂Cl_2:

4) Lard in water:

5) Lard in alcohol:

6) Lard in CH₂Cl_2:

7) Wax in water:

8) Wax in alcohol:

9) Wax in CH₂Cl_2:

Answer 1

1. Oil is non polar in nature while water is polar. To determine the miscibilty, rule of like dissolves like is followed. Water being polar will dissolve only polar molecules. Thus, corn oil in water is immiscible.

2. Alcohol contains both polar and non polar ends while oil is completely non polar. Due to the pressence of non polar alcohol, corn oil is miscible in alcohol.

3. Dichloromethane is a slightly polar solvent. Thus, corn oil will be miscible up to certain point however, the miscibilty will depend upon the temperature as well as concentration of oil.

4. Lard is fat obtained from pigs. Chemically, fats are long unpolar hydrocarbon chains. Due to their non polar nature they are insoluble in polar water.

5. Being unpolar in nature, it is slighty soluble in alcohol which is both polar and non polar.

6. Fats are highly soluble in organic solvents including dichlorometahne. Thus, lard is soluble in dichloromethane.

7. Wax is non polar in anture. Thsu it is insoluble in water.

8. Wax consists of heavy, long chain alkanes and is an organic compound which dissolves best in organic solvent. Alcohol are slightly non polar but not completely non polar in nature. Thus, wax is insoluble in alcohol.

9. Dicholoromethane being an organic solvent provides good solubility to wax. Thus, wax is soluble in dichloromethane.