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The number of carbon atoms in an alcohol affects its solubility in water, as shown in Table 13.3. As the length of the carbon chain increases, the polar OH group becomes an ever smaller part of the molecule, and the molecule becomes more like a hydrocarbon. The solubility of the alcohol decreases correspondingly. If the number of OH groups along the carbon chain increases, more solute-water hydrogen bonding is possible, and solubility generally increases. Glucose, C6H12O6, has five OH groups on a six-carbon framework, which makes the molecule very soluble in water
