Answer
Adding ethyl alcohol into liquid water causes the structure of water to break down because ethyl alcohol now forms hydrogen bonds with water molecules. Less volume than the sum of the volumes of the components results. Greater volume after mixing two liquids can result if greater structural ordering occurs in the mixture.
Work Step by Step
Adding ethyl alcohol into liquid water causes the structure of water to break down because ethyl alcohol now forms hydrogen bonds with water molecules. Less volume than the sum of the volumes of the components results. Greater volume after mixing two liquids can result if greater structural ordering occurs in the mixture.