Organic chem solubility

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so why are some compounds slightly soluble in water?

[Dr. Lennox]

Many organics soluble in water are capable of hydrogen bonding at some level (alcohols, carboxylic acids, amines, etc). Lower order aldehydes and ketones are hydrogen bond acceptors. When the carbon to oxygen count exceeds 5:1, oxygen containing organics lose their water solubility quickly. Remaining organic compounds without polar functional groups or with excessive carbon/heteroatom ratios cannot dissolve well in a highly polar medium such as water.

Edited August 6, 2012 by Dr. Lennox