CBSE Class 12-science Answered

There is also a significant difference between the solvents: CC_l4 and H₂O. The difference between the electro negativities of the carbon and chlorine atoms in CCl₄ is so small (EN = 0.56) that there is relatively little ionic character in the CCl bonds.

Even if there was some separation of charge in these bonds, the CCl₄ molecule wouldn't be polar, because it has a symmetrical shape in which the four chlorine atoms point toward the corners of a tetrahedron, as shown in the figure below. CCl4 is therefore best described as a nonpolar solvent.

The difference between the electronegativities of the hydrogen and oxygen atoms in water is much larger (EN = 1.24), and the HO bonds in this molecule are therefore polar. If the H2O molecule was linear, the polarity of the two OH bonds would cancel, and the molecule would have no net dipole moment. Water molecules are not linear, however, they have a bent, or angular shape. As a result, water molecules have distinct positive and negative poles, and water is a polar molecule, as shown in the figure below. Water is therefore classified as a polar solvent.

Because water molecules are bent, or angular, they have distinct negative and positive poles. H₂O is therefore an example of a polar solvent

So because of their different nature the two do not dissolve with each other and on mixing them we see two separate layers of two solvents.