Oils, Salt, and Water
Water is considered a universal solvent. It is a polar molecule that dissolves ionic compounds and polar molecules—as such, answering this question necessitates the classification of both table salt and oil regarding their polarity. Sodium Chloride (NaCl) is an ionic compound – because it is formed from a reaction between an alkali metal and hydrogen. Therefore, it is charged because all ionic compounds are formed from charged particles – ions. When NaCl is put in water, the negative part of the water molecule is attracted to the Sodium-ion, while the positive part of the water molecule is attracted to the Chloride ion. In general, NaCl is attracted by water.
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Conversely, oil is made from non-polar lipids. When put in water, the charged water molecules maintain attraction among themselves using hydrogen bonds. As such, oil cannot be attracted to water for two reasons. First, hydrogen bonds holding water molecules together are too strong for oil to break; and secondly, oil does not have a polarity that would attract either the positive or negative part of water molecules. Hence oil is not attracted to water.