Answer : Isopropanol molecules ( C₃H₈O) are the major species present when dissolved in water.
Explanation :
Compounds are of 2 types.
1) Ionic compounds : These are formed by the transfer of electrons from a metal to a non metal.
When ionic compounds are dissolved in water, they get separated into ions.
Therefore the major species present in case of an ionic compound are ions.
2) Molecular (Covalent) compounds: These are formed by sharing of electrons among 2 or more non metals.
Covalent compounds are further categorized as
a) Polar covalent : Polar covalent compounds partially dissociate to form ions.
Therefore the major species in case of polar covalent compounds are the undissociated molecules and ions.
b) Non polar covalent : Non polar covalent compounds are unable to dissociate and they remain in molecular form when dissolved. So the major species in case of a non polar compound are undissociated molecules only.
Isopropanol is a non polar covalent compound. As discussed above it will have undissociated isopropanol molecules as major species.
Hence Isopropanol molecules ( C₃H₈O) are the major species present when dissolved in water.
