Question

Hydrocarbons do not dissolve in concentrated sulfuric acid, but methyl benzoate does. Explain this difference and write an equation showing the ions that are produced.

Answer 1

Answer:

See explanation

Explanation:

For a substance to dissolve in another, there must be some sort of interaction between the substances.

Recall that like dissolves like. That is, polar substances dissolve polar substances and non polar substances dissolve nonpolar substances.

Hydrocarbons are nonpolar hence they do not dissolve in polar sulphuric acid. Methyl benzoate is polar hence it dissolve in polar sulphuric acid.

The equation showing the ions is depicted in the image attached to this answer.