---
title: "A student adds \\(10 \\text{ mL}\\) of liquid hexane, \\(\\text{C}_6\\text{H}_{14}\\text{(l)}\\), to \\(10 \\text{ mL}\\) of distilled water, \\(\\text{H}_2\\text{O(l)}\\), in a test tube at \\(25\\ ^\\circ\\text{C}\\). After thoroughly shaking the mixture and allowing it to stand, the student observes two separate liquid layers. Which of the following best explains why hexane is immiscible with water?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119987/"
date_modified: "2026-08-21T08:31:38+00:00"
---

# A student adds \(10 \text{ mL}\) of liquid hexane, \(\text{C}_6\text{H}_{14}\text{(l)}\), to \(10 \text{ mL}\) of distilled water, \(\text{H}_2\text{O(l)}\), in a test tube at \(25\ ^\circ\text{C}\). After thoroughly shaking the mixture and allowing it to stand, the student observes two separate liquid layers. Which of the following best explains why hexane is immiscible with water?

A student adds \(10 \text{ mL}\) of liquid hexane, \(\text{C}_6\text{H}_{14}\text{(l)}\), to \(10 \text{ mL}\) of distilled water, \(\text{H}_2\text{O(l)}\), in a test tube at \(25\ ^\circ\text{C}\). After thoroughly shaking the mixture and allowing it to stand, the student observes two separate liquid layers. Which of the following best explains why hexane is immiscible with water?

- **A.** Hexane is immiscible with water because nonpolar hexane molecules exert repulsive electrostatic forces on polar water molecules.
- **B.** Hexane is immiscible with water because polar water molecules cannot form any intermolecular attractions with nonpolar hydrocarbon molecules.
- **C.** Hexane is immiscible with water because the relatively weak dipole-induced dipole and dispersion interactions between hexane and water molecules cannot compensate for the disruption of strong hydrogen bonds between water molecules.
- **D.** Hexane is immiscible with water because the covalent bonds within the hexane molecules are too strong to be broken by water molecules.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119987/*