Sodium chloride is an ionic compound, meaning that it consists of positively charged ions (sodium) and negatively charged ions (chloride) held together by electrostatic forces. Ethyl alcohol, on the other hand, is a polar molecular compound, meaning that its molecules have a partial positive end and a partial negative end.

When sodium chloride is dissolved in water, the water molecules surround the ions and solvate them, meaning that they form a layer of water molecules around each ion. This solvation process weakens the electrostatic forces between the ions, allowing them to separate and dissolve in the water.

In contrast, ethyl alcohol is not able to solvate sodium chloride ions as effectively as water. This is because the ethyl alcohol molecules are not as polar as water molecules, so they do not form as strong hydrogen bonds with the ions. As a result, the electrostatic forces between the ions are not weakened enough to allow them to separate and dissolve in the ethyl alcohol.

Therefore, sodium chloride is insoluble in ethyl alcohol.