Why is water often referred to as the “universal solvent”?

JAMB Chemistry 2023 49 views

Why is water often referred to as the “universal solvent”?

  1. Water is the most abundant substance on Earth.
  2. Water can dissolve a wide variety of substances due to its polar nature. ✓
  3. Water is involved in many chemical reactions.
  4. Water is essential for all living organisms.

Explanation

Water molecules have a positive end and a negative end, making them polar. This polarity allows water to attract and surround particles of many different substances, pulling them apart.

The positive part of water molecules attracts negative ions, while the negative part attracts positive ions. This ability lets water dissolve salts, sugars, acids, bases, and many other compounds.

No solvent truly dissolves everything, but water dissolves more substances than any other common liquid. This makes “universal solvent” an appropriate nickname for water in chemistry.

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