Questions: After dissolving our impure naphthalene in methanol, the solution looks red. What could have happened? a) Methanol is normally red b) There are more impurities in the naphthalene c) The impurities are not present anymore d) The impurities have also dissolved in the methanol

Solution Steps

The problem involves a solution of impure naphthalene in methanol that appears red. We need to determine the reason for this color change.

• Option a: Methanol is normally red.
  Methanol is a clear, colorless liquid. Therefore, this option is incorrect.

• Option b: There are more impurities in the naphthalene.
  This option suggests that the naphthalene contains additional impurities, but it does not directly explain the red color of the solution.

• Option c: The impurities are not present anymore.
  If the impurities were not present, the solution would likely be clear, assuming pure naphthalene and methanol. This option is incorrect.

• Option d: The impurities have also dissolved in the methanol.
  This option suggests that the impurities, which could be colored, have dissolved in the methanol, causing the solution to appear red. This is a plausible explanation.

Given that methanol is colorless and the solution appears red, the most likely explanation is that the impurities, which are colored, have dissolved in the methanol.

Final Answer