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

Explanation

Solubility of alcohols in water depends upon the following two factors:
(i) Hydrogen bonding. O-H group in alcohol being polar forms H-bonds with `H_(2)O`. Greater the extent of H-bonding, higher is the solubility. For alcohols having comparable molecular masses, solubility increases as the number of OH groups increases, i.e.,
`underset("Mol. mass 88 g "mol^(-1))(CH_(3)CH_(2)CH_(2)CH_(2)CH_(2)OH) lt underset("Mol. mass "89g" "mol^(-1))(CH_(3)CH_(2)CHOHCH_(2)OH) lt underset("Mol. mass "92" g "mol^(-1))(HOCH_(2)CHOHCH_(2)OH)`
(ii) Size of the alkyl/aryl group. higher the hydrocarbon part, lower is the extent of H-bonding and hence lower is the solubility. for example, solubility decreases in the order:
`CH_(3)CH_(2)OH gt CH_(3)CH_(2)CH_(2)OH gt CH_(3)CH_(2)CH_(2)CH_(2)OH`