What happens to nonpolar substances when mixed with polar solvents?

Nonpolar substances do not dissolve in polar solvents due to the fundamental differences in their molecular structures. Polar solvents, like water, have a partial positive charge on one end and a partial negative charge on the other, which results in a ability to form hydrogen bonds and interact strongly with other polar molecules. Nonpolar substances, on the other hand, lack this charge separation and do not engage in such interactions.

When a nonpolar substance is introduced to a polar solvent, the solvent molecules will preferentially interact with each other through their polar interactions rather than with the nonpolar substance. This lack of interaction means that the nonpolar substance remains separate and does not dissolve, which is why it is accurate to say they do not dissolve in polar solvents. This principle is often summarized by the phrase "like dissolves like," indicating that polar solvents primarily dissolve polar substances, while nonpolar solvents dissolve nonpolar substances.