What is true regarding the solubility of R-134a refrigerant in non-polar lubricants?

R-134a, also known as tetrafluoroethane, is a refrigerant that is used in various cooling applications. The solubility of R-134a in non-polar lubricants is characterized as low. This is because R-134a is a polar molecule, which means it has regions of positive and negative charge, while non-polar lubricants lack this structure. The fundamental principle of solubility is that "like dissolves like," which means polar substances tend to dissolve well in polar solvents, and non-polar substances dissolve well in non-polar solvents. Therefore, R-134a’s low solubility in non-polar lubricants indicates that it does not mix efficiently with them, making the option describing low solubility accurate. This characteristic is important for technicians to understand when choosing appropriate lubricants for systems that utilize R-134a, as poor solubility could lead to inadequate lubrication and potential system failures.