Solvent

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/solvent

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the fundamental role?Medium for chemical reactions, separations, and formulations
2. What is the solvation principle?Governed by 'like dissolves like' based on polarity and intermolecular forces
3. Why do polar solvents dissolve salty or sugary things?Polar solvents have uneven charge distribution, so they attract the charged parts of salty or sugary molecules and mix them together easily.
4. How do nonpolar solvents like hexane dissolve oils?Nonpolar solvents have no charge differences, so they fit with oil molecules that also have no charge, and they stick together through weak London dispersion forces.

Intermolecular Forces: Attractive forces between molecules that influence solubility and physical properties.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Chemical compounds that easily evaporate into the air, often contributing to pollution.
Green Chemistry: A philosophy of designing chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances.