[Rutherford]

I know that like dissolves like, but I am interested to know how does a non-polar solvent dissolve a non-polar solute?
With polars, it should be caused by forming bonds (hydrogen bond with water or other dipole-dipole interactions with other solvents) or the solvent decomposes the solute to ions. But what is behind the dissolution of non polar substances in non polar solvents?

[Dan]

You should find this helpful:

http://www.chemicalforums.com/index.php?topic=37061

[Rutherford]

Found it very useful . Nice explanation. I have to deeply think about it now. Thanks.

[Rutherford]

Can a non-polar solvent dissolve ions?

[Arkcon]

Some can, for example, the crown ethers:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_ether And they are very useful for certain reactions.  Such as "purple benzene" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_benzene#.22Purple_benzene.22 when made by 18-Crown-6 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18-crown-6

[Rutherford]

Thanks, from what you've posted I saw that they act as ligands. So, the majority of non-polar solvents won't dissolve ions, but those who act as ligands will.

[fledarmus]

Oddly enough, in this case the crown ethers are acting as surfactants as well as ligands, and other surfactants can also be used. When the crown ether ligates to an ion, the inner surface of the ether contains all of the oxygens (polar functionalities) and interacts with the ion. The outer surface is non-polar, containing all of the hydrocarbon linkers, and can interact with the non-polar solvent.

Other surfactants do the same thing - they have a polar end and a non-polar end, the polar end can interact with the ions and the non-polar end can interact with the solvent. Crown ethers are very clever in that they can be tailored to form an interior ligating shell of the perfect size to interact with only a single type of ion, and are thus very selective for the ions they will solvate.

[Rutherford]

Okay, thanks. I will keep that in mind.