National League for Nursing (NLN PAX) Practice Exam

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If substance Y is soluble only in nonpolar solvents and does not conduct electricity, which type of substance is it most likely?

  1. An ionic substance

  2. A polar substance

  3. A nonpolar substance

  4. A metallic substance

The correct answer is: A nonpolar substance

Substance Y is best categorized as a nonpolar substance due to its solubility properties and lack of electrical conductivity. Nonpolar substances typically dissolve in nonpolar solvents because they have similar intermolecular forces, primarily London dispersion forces, which allow for effective interaction and solvation. The fact that substance Y does not conduct electricity further supports its classification as nonpolar. Nonpolar substances lack free-moving charged particles or ions, which are essential for electrical conductivity. In contrast, ionic substances contain charged ions that can move freely in solution, allowing for electrical conductivity, while polar substances possess regions of partial positive and negative charges that can engage in dipole interactions with polar solvents. Therefore, the behavior of substance Y in terms of solubility in nonpolar solvents and its inability to conduct electricity confirms that it is most likely a nonpolar substance.