Which property is typical of non-polar organic compounds?

Study for the NCEA Level 2 Organic Chemistry Exam. Review key concepts with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with detailed explanations. Get prepared for your exam success!

Non-polar organic compounds are characterized by their molecular structure, which does not have a significant difference in electronegativity between the atoms involved, leading to an even distribution of electrical charge. This lack of polarity means that these compounds do not interact favorably with polar solvents, such as water.

Water is a polar solvent due to its bent molecular shape and the presence of highly electronegative oxygen atoms, creating a partial negative charge on the oxygen and partial positive charges on the hydrogen atoms. Non-polar compounds, on the other hand, have little to no charge separation, which results in their tendency to be insoluble or have low solubility in polar solvents like water.

This characteristic of low solubility in water is a common basis for understanding the behavior of organic compounds in solutions and their applications in various settings, such as in the formulation of products that require non-polar solvents for effective mixing or extraction processes. Therefore, the property of low solubility in water accurately describes what is typical for non-polar organic compounds.

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