Why do certain compounds dissolve in oil? Why do some types of compounds dissolve in oil, yet not water?
I propose a logical approach, to explain the rule &quot;the like dissolve like&quot;. Why don't we admit that all liquids should be able to mix, exactly like gases may be mixed in all proportion ? This is the case for non polar molecules, like oils. And if two liquids don't mix, this is due to the existence of attracting forces between molecules A (hydrogen bonds for exemple), and that mixing them with another stuff B may destroy too many of these bonds. If the mixing operation A + B creates about as many new bonds as those broken during the mixing, the liquids A and B may be mixed. This is the case in the mixture water - ethanol. If the mixing operation A+B does not create enough new bonds between molecules A and B, like water and oil, Nature refuses to break the bonds between A molecules without any counterpart, and prevents the A molecules (water) to be separated from one another in order to accept B molecules, and A and B are not miscible.