Alcohol is more soluble in water when compared to alkanes due to formation of
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Hydrogen bond
A substance dissolves well in water when its molecules can attract water molecules about as strongly as water molecules attract one another. Water molecules are held together by hydrogen bonds. The –OH group of an alcohol can also form hydrogen bonds with water molecules: the H of the alcohol bonds to the O of water, and the O of the alcohol to an H of water.
Alkanes have only almost non-polar C–H bonds and cannot form hydrogen bonds with water, so they do not dissolve.
Why the other options are incorrect
Option (1) Covalent bond — Incorrect. Covalent bonds hold the atoms within each molecule; no new covalent bond forms between alcohol and water when the alcohol dissolves.
Option (2) Ionic bond — Incorrect. Alcohols are covalent compounds and do not ionise in water, so no ionic bonds are formed.
Option (4) Peptide bond — Incorrect. A peptide bond is the amide link (–CO–NH–) between amino acids in proteins; it has nothing to do with dissolving an alcohol.
NCERT (2026-27 edition):
Solubility
