Which statement is true about Xylene and water miscibility?

• A. Xylene will not mix with water.
• B. Xylene will mix with water.
• C. Xylene partially mixes with water at high temperatures.
• D. Water will always dissolve Xylene.

Answer: (A)

Xylene and water do not mix because of polarity differences. Water is highly polar and forms a strong hydrogen-bonded network, while xylene is nonpolar. When these two liquids are combined, the energetic favorability of water–water interactions remains high, and the weak, nonpolar interactions between water and xylene aren’t enough to overcome that network. This drives the system to separate into two distinct layers rather than form a single homogeneous solution. While trace amounts of one liquid can dissolve in the other, the solubility is so limited that it’s not considered true miscibility, even with temperature changes. So xylene will not mix with water.