Question

1. a) How many layers would form if you mix mineral oil and water? Explain why this happens in terms of the chemical properties of the substances and solubility.

b) If you add a dye (an ionic compound) to the above solution, which layer (top or bottom) would become colored? Why?

c) Is this dye (ionic compound) lipid-soluble/nonpolar or polar?

Answer 1

1. a) Mineral oil and water are immiscible and hence cannot mix. There will be two layers formed. This is because the oil particles are hydrophobic and hence cannot interact with water to form a solution.

b) Water is present at the bottom as it is denser than oil. An ionic dye would dissolve in water and not oil as oil is non polar and water is polar solvent. The bottom becomes colored as it is where dye disssolves

c) The dye is polar as we only know it's ionic character