Question

Explain the following:

Electrovalent compounds dissolve in water whereas covalent compounds do not.

Answer 1

As water is a polar compound, it decreases the electrostatic forces of attraction, resulting in free ions in the aqueous solution. Hence, electrovalent compounds dissolve.

Covalent compounds do not dissolve in water but dissolve in organic solvents. Organic solvents are non-polar; hence, these dissolve in non-polar covalent compounds.