The
principal reason for the extremely low solubility of NaCl in benzene (C₆H₆)
is the: e. weak solvation of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ by C₆H₆.
Solvation is the interaction of solvent (benzene) with molecules or ions (sodium chloride) in a solute. Sodium chloride has ionic bonds and
benzene has nonpolar covalent bonds, because of that, solvation is weak.