Final answer:
Water is attracted to charged or polar solutes, forming hydration shells around them. Hydration shells are the result of water's polarity and its ability to interact with and stabilize charged particles. Hydrophilic substances readily interact with water, while hydrophobic substances do not.
Step-by-step explanation:
Water is attracted to charged or polar solutes, forming hydration shells around them. Due to the polarity of water molecules, having slight positive and negative charges, water can act as a solvent for many substances. When a polar or ionic compound dissolves in water, the particles become surrounded by water molecules, creating a sphere of hydration or a hydration shell. This configuration helps to keep the ions or polar molecules dispersed in the water, stabilizing them in the solution.