Lovato 1

Alicia Lovato
Instructor: Kevin Okleberry
Chemistry: 1010 Spring Semester 2018
Date: 04/27/2018
E-portfolio Signature Assignment

Why Oil and Water Don’t Mix

I have always wondered why oil and water do not mix. This is why I chose this particular
experiment as my E-Portfolio signature assignment. My ideas came from the following source.
“10 Science Projects for Elementary School Students by HooplaKidz Lab.” YouTube, uploaded
by Hoopla Kidz Lab, 7 June 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBV0wehj9YE.
Accessed 28, March. 2018.

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/photo/experiment-showing-how-oil-and-water-do-not-
high-res-stock-photography/123519595. Accessed 4, April. 2018.

The reason why oil and water does not mix is because they both have different electro
negativities. Water molecules are attracted to each other because they are polar bonds, which
means that they have partial charges that will attract one another. The oxygen has a more of an
electronegativity, therefore it will pull more of a negative partial charge than the hydrogen. The
oil has a bunch of carbon and hydrogen bonds, which both have very similar electro negativities.
Therefore, the carbon and hydrogen bonds will have no partial charges because they share
electrons equally. This is a nonpolar bond, which is hydrophobic and wants to stay away from
water. Oil has a lower density than water, so it always floats on top.
“Oil and Water.” Questacon, 2017, https://www.questacon.edu.au/outreach/programs/science-
circus/videos/oil-and-water. Accessed 28, Mar. 2018.
 Lovato 2

Another reason why oil and water do not mix is polarity. Polarity means a molecule is positively
charged at one end and negatively charged at the other because of different electronegativity’s.
Water is a polar molecule. Water is made up of molecules of two hydrogen atoms and one
oxygen atom each. Since only opposites attract, the water molecules stick to each other from the
hydrogen bonds (partial positive charge) bonding with an oxygen (partial negative charge) from
another water molecule. Polar molecules only dissolve in polar solvents. Similarly, non-polar
molecules only dissolve in non-polar solvents. Oils are made up of non-polar molecules.
Meaning the oil molecule will ultimately stick together. A non-polar molecule will want to stick
together with another non-polar molecule. Polar molecules want to stick with polar molecules.
In conclusion, even if you stir a container with oil and water together, they will eventually
separate into two distinct layers.
“Density Test.” Mocomi.com, 2018, http://mocomi.com/density-test/. Accessed 28, Mar. 2018

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=s6wcU%2fHT&id=1AAB51CFBCBE4D2BFDB87443E813A136A126CDFD&thid
=OIP.s6wcU_HTm5LV-G4cVbpD_wHaDa&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fimage.shutterstock.com%2fz%2fstock-photo-water-and-oil-don-t-mix-
infographic-diagram-showing-separated-layers-and-molecules-of-each-one-
682213063.jpg&exph=690&expw=1500&q=oil+and+water+molecules&simid=607999064451580950&selectedIndex=8&ajaxhist=0. Accessed
28, Mar. 2018.

Reflection:
In taking a Chemistry class I have come to learn that Chemistry is not just about blowing things
up as I thought, it would be. Chemistry is very important because Chemistry is in everything you
do. How Chemistry, has helped me in my field of study, which is Respiratory Therapy, it has
taught me that even our body, is made of Chemicals.