Question

Why is water sometimes called the universal solvent?

A.
because only salts can dissolve in water
B.
because water is not good at cleaning things
C.
because many substances dissolve in water
D.
because water is a clear liquid

Answer 1

Water is referred to as the universal solvent because of its ability to dissolve a wide range of substances, attributed to its polar molecular structure that enables the formation of hydration shells around dissolved ions and polar molecules.

Step-by-step explanation:

Water is sometimes called the universal solvent because it has the ability to dissolve many different substances. This is due to water's molecular structure, which is polar, having slight positive and negative charges. These charges allow water to form hydrogen bonds with other charged and polar molecules, leading to the formation of hydration shells around dissolved ions and molecules. The polarity of water molecules enables them to interact with and dissolve ionic compounds like sodium chloride (table salt) as well as polar covalent compounds, making them 'water-loving' or hydrophilic. This exceptional solvency supports various biochemical reactions in living organisms, making water essential for life.

Answer 2

Water is capable of dissolving a variety of different substances, which is why it is such a good solvent. And, water is called the "universal solvent" because it dissolves more substances than any other liquid. This is important to every living thing on earth. It means that wherever water goes, either through the ground or through our bodies, it takes along valuable chemicals, minerals, and nutrients.

It is water's chemical composition and physical attributes that make it such an excellent solvent. 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. This allows the water molecule to become attracted to many other different types of molecules. Water can become so heavily attracted to a different molecule, like salt (NaCl), that it can disrupt the attractive forces that hold the sodium and chloride in the salt molecule together and, thus, dissolve it, so c!!