Why are ionic compounds are soluble in water but insoluble in kerosene?

Answer: Ionic compounds are made up of oppositely charged ions that are kept together by strong electrostatic intermolecular interactions. When one metal reacts with another non-metal, ionic compounds are formed. The major explanation for the hardness of ionic compounds is the electrostatic force. In an ionic compound, the oppositely charged ions are packed firmly together and produce a crystalline structure that is highly hard and stiff. Sodium chloride, chemically expressed as NaCl, is an example of an ionic compound.

1. Solubility in water: 

• Since water is a polar compound it opposes the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions as a solvent, such as positively charged ions and negatively charged ions, ionic substance dissociates into corresponding ions when dissolved in water resulting in free ions in an aqueous solution

• As a result, ionic compounds are water-soluble

2. Solubility in kerosene: 

• Kerosene is a nonpolar solvent that will dissolve only nonpolar covalent molecules

• Intermolecular forces exist in nonpolar fluids as well, but because there is no substantial charge separation within a nonpolar molecule, these forces are insufficient to overcome the strong electrostatic attraction operating between the atoms in a covalent compound

• Hence, nonpolar solvents such as kerosene and cyclohexane are insoluble for ionic compounds

Thus, it can be concluded that ionic compounds are soluble in water but insoluble in kerosene.