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Water is a relatively unique molecule as the Oxygen atom shares electrons with both Hydrogen atoms, and also has two lone (unshared) pairs of electrons. This makes the physical structure of the molecule bent or v-shaped. This shape, with the Oxygen at the point of the vee, and the Hydrogens at the ends, makes the molecule polar. A polar molecule has a relative negative charge at one end, and a relative positive charge at the other. Becuase all ionic molecules (salt, NaCl) are also polar, and like dissolves like, water's polarity can 'grab onto' salt's polarity and pull it apart, dissolving it.

The chemical equation is:

H2O(l) + NaCl(s) --> H2O(l) + Na+(aq) + Cl-(aq)

Where l means liquid, s solid and aq aqueous (dissolved) Water is a relatively unique molecule as the Oxygen atom shares electrons with both Hydrogen atoms, and also has two lone (unshared) pairs of electrons. This makes the physical structure of the molecule bent or v-shaped. This shape, with the Oxygen at the point of the vee, and the Hydrogens at the ends, makes the molecule polar. A polar molecule has a relative negative charge at one end, and a relative positive charge at the other. Becuase all ionic molecules (salt, NaCl) are also polar, and like dissolves like, water's polarity can 'grab onto' salt's polarity and pull it apart, dissolving it.

The chemical equation is:

H2O(l) + NaCl(s) --> H2O(l) + Na+(aq) + Cl-(aq)

Where l means liquid, s solid and aq aqueous (dissolved)

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15y ago
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13y ago

Water is a polar molecule, meaning one end has a partial negative charge and the other a partial positive charge. Water molecules can surround an ion, facing it with the end that has the opposite charge as the ion, and separate it from the rest of the crystal structure.

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11y ago

Salt is an ionic compound, which means it's held together by the attraction between the positive sodium ion and the negative chlorine ion. Ionic compounds are therefore polar, meaning they have an obvious positive end and negative end. Water isn't ionic, but it is polar, because of the presence of unshared electrons on one end of every water molecule. Because salt and water are both polar, they are "compatible," therefore salt dissolves in water. The expression "like dissolves like" applies here, and is a good general rule.

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8y ago

The water molecules move around salt ions

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Q: How do water molecules dissolve salt?
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Related questions

What will dissolve?

Salt can dissolve in water because the salt molecules hide between the water molecules so that means it can dissolve but it hasn't dissapeared in the water


Why cant salt dissolve in water?

it can, polar water molecules easily dissolve polar molecules, or ionic compounds such as salt.


How do molecules dissolve a salt?

The water molecules move around the salt ions In water, the salt separates into positive and negative ions.


Why does salt dissolve faster in hot water rather than cold?

In hot water the water molecules are moving at a faster rate than they move in cold water. The faster moving molecules hit the salt molecules with greater force and knock them away from the other salt molecules faster. That way the salt molecules dissolve in the water quicker.


What W can be used to dissolve salt?

Water can be use to dissolve salt. The positive part of water molecules attracts the negative chloride ions and the negative part of water molecules attracts the positive sodium ions.


Why is it slower to dissolve salt in the cold water?

The molecules are slower and more compact.


How do water and salt dissolve together?

Sodium does go into solution with H20, but Pure Water is also a perfect insulator, therefore the answer is salt will dissolve into a water based solution, but water does not dissolve into salt.


Why the level of water remains same when a pinch of salt dissolve in it?

Because the particles of the salt get into the intermoleculer space between the molecules of water


Does water and salt dissolve?

No, but salt does dissolve in water.


What things dissolves in water?

Polar molecules like sugar and ionic substances like salt will dissolve in water.


Why does dissolve faster salt in hot water than cold water?

salt dissolve quicker in hot water because it practicaly melts the salt there fore making it quicker to dissolve.


Why does salt dissolve in water but not cooking oil?

Salt (sodium chloride) is an ionic compound; water is a polar solvent, oils have non-polar molecules.