Final answer:
Water's capability to dissolve many substances is due to its polar molecular structure, allowing it to form hydrogen bonds and create a sphere of hydration around dissolved particles, making it an efficient solvent for biochemical reactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why Water is Called the Universal Solvent
The ability for water to dissolve so many substances stems from its polar molecular structure. Water has a slight positive charge on its hydrogen atoms and a slight negative charge on its oxygen atom. This polarity allows water to interact with and dissolve ionic compounds and other polar substances by forming hydrogen bonds with them, creating a sphere of hydration that keeps the dissolved particles separated.
Because of this, ionic compounds like salt and polar molecules like sugar are described as hydrophilic, which means they mix or dissolve well in water. Conversely, nonpolar compounds that do not dissolve well in water, such as oils and fats, are termed hydrophobic. This unique characteristic of water is critical for life as it allows for the biochemical reactions that occur in our bodies to happen in an aqueous environment.