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Chemical Bonding
Electrovalent compounds do not dissolves in organic solvents but dissolves in water. What makes ionic compounds soluble in water?
Electrovalent compounds or ionic compounds are usually soluble in water, but insoluble in organic solvents like ether, acetone, benzene, carbon disulphide and carbon tetrachloride. 'Like dissolves like': Ionic compounds dissolve in polar or ionic solvents. Water has a high dielectric constant. Water easily breaks the strong electrostatic force of attraction. The water molecule is polar in nature. The positively charged hydrogen atoms surround the anion. The negatively charged OH- (hydroxyl) surround the cation. Hence, the cation is separated from the anion, breaking the crystal lattice. The organic solvents contain non-polar molecules. Therefore, they are unable to break the electrostatic forces of attraction.