"water is called the "universal solvent" because it dissolves more substances than any other liquid. ...Water molecules have a polar arrangement of the oxygen and hydrogen atoms—one side (hydrogen) has a positive electrical charge and the other side (oxygen) had a negative charge."
" a water molecule is made up of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. Molecules that have partially charged positive and negative areas are polar. Because water molecules are polar, water can dissolve many other polar substances."