Final answer:
Molecules with positive or negative charges, like sugars, DNA, and RNA, readily dissolve in water due to their interactions with water molecules, either through hydrogen bonding or electrostatic attraction.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a molecule carries a positive or negative charge, it interacts with the polar water molecules. Sugars, DNA, and RNA contain functional groups that can carry either positive or negative charges, allowing them to form hydrogen bonds or experience electrostatic attractions with the partially charged regions of water molecules. These interactions break down the forces holding the molecules together, enabling them to dissolve easily in water.
For instance, the phosphate groups in DNA and RNA carry negative charges, attracting the positively charged regions of water molecules, while the hydroxyl groups in sugars form hydrogen bonds with water. These interactions disrupt the intermolecular forces within these molecules, facilitating their dissolution.
This dissolution process can be understood through calculations involving the molecular structures and charges of these molecules, demonstrating how their polar or charged regions interact with water molecules to facilitate dissolution. Understanding these molecular interactions is fundamental in fields such as biochemistry and molecular biology.