* Polarity: Sodium hydroxide is a highly polar ionic compound, meaning it has a strong attraction between the positively charged sodium ions (Na+) and the negatively charged hydroxide ions (OH-). Toluene, on the other hand, is a non-polar organic solvent.
* "Like dissolves like": A general rule of thumb in chemistry is that polar solvents dissolve polar solutes, and non-polar solvents dissolve non-polar solutes. Since sodium hydroxide is polar and toluene is non-polar, they are not compatible and will not dissolve in each other.
In short: Sodium hydroxide would not dissolve in toluene because of their differing polarities.
