Florida Fire State Practice Exam

Flammable liquids that mix readily with water are known as what?

1. Hydrophobic solvents

2. Apolar solvents

3. Polar solvents

4. Volatile solvents

The correct answer is: Polar solvents

Flammable liquids that mix readily with water are classified as polar solvents. This classification is based on the molecule's ability to form hydrogen bonds with water due to its polar nature, which means that the molecules have regions of partial positive and negative charges. This characteristic allows polar solvents, such as alcohols, to dissolve in water and interact more efficiently with it. In contrast, hydrophobic solvents do not mix well with water due to their non-polar nature, which prevents them from interacting effectively with polar molecules like water. Similarly, apolar solvents are entirely non-polar and share the same limitations as hydrophobic solvents when it comes to mixing with water. Volatile solvents, while they may be flammable, do not specifically imply that they will mix with water. Therefore, polar solvents is the correct choice for identifying flammable liquids that mix readily with water.