What characteristic gives ethanol its versatile, ambivalent behavior in dissolving different types of substances?
Answer
The presence of both a polar $ ext{OH}$ group and a nonpolar hydrocarbon tail.
Ethanol possesses a polar $ ext{OH}$ group enabling mixing with polar solvents like water, while its nonpolar hydrocarbon tail allows it to dissolve some less polar compounds, making it an intermediate solvent.
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