Why doesn't oil mix with water?

Question

Why doesn't oil mix with water?

Answer 1

water is polar molecule but oil is non-polar molecule

for water to mix with a substance, it should be able to create hydrogen bond with that substance

oil is non polar & since the difference between the electronegativity  of H and C are so small

thus only weak London forces and dipole-induce-dipole interactions happen between oil & water; but no hydrogen bond

that's why oil doesnt mix wif water

Answer 2

The oil is a Non-polar substance. It also has a lower density than water and forms an interface above the water due to this.

Oil is classed as 'Immiscible' substance with water.

Answer 3

The density (heaviness) and viscosity...

Answer 4

Incompatible molecular structure. Things like phosphates make the bridge.

Answer 5

When mixed together and allowed to stand, the water molecules tend to

coalesce with themselves. Likewise, for the oil molecules. Since (most of the

time) the water has a greater density than oil, the water phase settles to

the bottom leaving the oil layer floating on top.

So, at the bottom line, it is molecular dissimilarity and mutual (like)

bonding forces between like molecules that causes oil and water to be

immiscible.

Answer 6

I'm sorry I don't know.

Answer 7

oil is non-polar, while water is polar substance..

therefore, these are 2 different form of substance, so oil doesn't mix with water.

Answer 8

In particular, the ability or inability to distribute electronic charge

is an important characteristic for solubility.)  Water is a polar

molecule -- that is, electronic charges are localized on specific atoms.

Oil is a non-polar molecule -- electronic charges are de-localized over

all atoms.  Water dissolves other polar molecules and oil dissolves other

non-polar molecules but water does not dissolve oil (and vice-versa).

Soap molecules are large.  At one end they behave like polar molecules

(electronic charges are isolated) and at the other end they behave like

non-polar molecules (electronic charges are de-localized.

Answer 9

These two species are immiscible - that is, they don't mix with or dissolve in each other in all proportions. To explain this, "like dissolves like." Water is a polar substance, whereas oil is not. Water forms hydrogen bonds with itself (H atom bonded to another N, O, or F). Oil contains london forces with varying positions of electrons that hold molecules together. You can physically mix them together, but they will seperate back out by densities again.  

Answer 10

Being lighter it floats over water.