Name the factors responsible for the solubility of alcohols in water.

The factors responsible for the solubility of alcohols in water are:

I) Hydrogen bonds

II) Size of the alkyl or aryl groups

III) Molecular mass of the Alcohols.

Alcohols are soluble in water due to their ability to form hydrogen bonds with the water molecules or the intermolecular hydrogen bonding.

With increase in the size of the alkyl or aryl groups, the solubility of alcohols in water decreases. The low molecular mass alcohols are soluble in water due to the presence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding between alcohol molecules.

With an increase in the alkyl group of alcohol or in case of high molecular mass alcohols, it suppresses the effect of polar nature of –OH group of alcohol. Thus, the solubility of alcohol decreases with increases in molecular size and therefore, alcohols with lower molecular masses are more soluble than the alcohols with higher molecular masses.