(2) (6 points) Surgilube and K-Y Jelly are two popular brands of personal lubric

Question

(2) (6 points) Surgilube and K-Y Jelly are two popular brands of personal lubricants with numerous medical applications. The active ingredients of this class of lubricants include glycerol (LL), propylene glycol (MM), and hydroxyethylcellulose (NN). In four sentences or fewer, explain why these products function poorly in wet environments, such as rain storms or baths, compared to alternatives like Vaseline, which is a mix- ture of hydrocarbons (primarily of C2s and higher) R- H or CH2CH20H HOR HOR O

Explanation / Answer

Due to the presence of hydroxyl groups, all the three compounds are polar. As the electronegativity of oxygen is more than that of carbon. Hence, these compounds are soluble in water. Thus, they won't work well in wet conditions as they get dissolved in water and do not perform well. Whereas, the hydrocarbons are nonpolar and hence, insoluble in water. So, they work even in wet conditions.

**Comment if any doubt.

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