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Water is a polar solvent which can readily dissolve polar compounds. Water dissolves ionic salts by hydrating their component ions. For example, water dissolves NaCl by hydrating and stabilizing the Na+ and Cl- ions, thus weakening the electrostatic interactions between them and therefore counteracting their tendency to associate in a crystalline lattice.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoWater is a good solvent due to its polarity.When an ionic or polar compound enters water, it is surrounded by water molecules. The relatively small size of water molecules typically allows many water molecules to surround one molecule of solute. The partially negative dipoles of the water are attracted to positively charged components of the solute, and vice versa for the positive dipoles.
It is this polar property that allows water to separate polar solute molecules and explains why water can dissolve so many substances.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoWater is a very polar substance with one end of the molecule having a partial positive charge and the other a partial negative charge. The molecules can surround an ion with the ends of the opposite charge of the ion facing inwards, forming what is called a hydration shell. This allows the ion to break free of the crystal lattice.
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Which characteristic of water molecules makes water a good solvent?
The polarity of water results in the ability of water to dissolve other hydrophilic molecules
What is it that makes water such a good solvent for polar substances?
It's hydrogen side is partially positively charged, and its oxygen side is partially negatively charged. This allows it to dissolve soluble ionic compounds.
How can water dissolve ionic compounds and covelent compounds?
Water is a good solvent because it has polar -O-H groups and the same reason makes water a good solvent for polar compounds as acetic acid and hydrochloric acid. Water is not a good solvent for non polar compounds such as bromine and iodine.
What part of air is the solvent and why?
Water vapor would be the solvent. Water alone is a good solvent.
What would be a good solvent at room temperature for naphthalene C10H8 Water ethanol or pentane?
pentane will be good solvent for naphthalene.
Why is it important to living things that water is a good solvent?
Water is used as a solvent because it can dissolve other polar substances and many ionic substances. It is often called the universal solvent. However, water does not dissolve polar substances and some ionic substances.
Is water a univeral solvent?
No. There is no "universal solvent". That said, water is a pretty darn good solvent for a wide variety of materials.Added:Water is a very good solvent for polar compounds (eg. sugar) and ionic compounds (eg. salt) but not for 'apolar' (hydrophobic, means does not LIKE water) substances like fat, grease, oil, gasoline etc.
Which characteristic of water molecules makes water a good solvent?
The polarity of water results in the ability of water to dissolve other hydrophilic molecules
How water is known as universal solvent eventhough it doesnt dissolve all substances?
Water is a very good and known solvent but it is not an universal solvent. An universal solvent doesn't exist and is absolutely impossible to obtain an universal solvent.
What is it that makes water such a good solvent for polar substances?
It's hydrogen side is partially positively charged, and its oxygen side is partially negatively charged. This allows it to dissolve soluble ionic compounds.
Water is called the universal solvent?
An universal solvent don't exist; water is only a very good solvent for many substances, a quasi-universal solvent.
How can water dissolve ionic compounds and covelent compounds?
Water is a good solvent because it has polar -O-H groups and the same reason makes water a good solvent for polar compounds as acetic acid and hydrochloric acid. Water is not a good solvent for non polar compounds such as bromine and iodine.
Why is water a universally solvent?
Water is only a quasi-universal solvent. The chemical and physical properties of water are very suitable for a good solvent. Water is not totally universal. Many glues don't disolve in water, but they do in petrol (gasoline).this is because water dissolves a lot of substances except oil,etc... likes dissolves likes, polar substances dissolves polar substances and most of the things here in the world are made up of polar substances.
Why water is universal solvent?
Water is only a quasi-universal solvent. The chemical and physical properties of water are very suitable for a good solvent. Water is not totally universal. Many glues don't disolve in water, but they do in petrol (gasoline).this is because water dissolves a lot of substances except oil,etc... likes dissolves likes, polar substances dissolves polar substances and most of the things here in the world are made up of polar substances.
Does water dissolve most things?
Yes. Water is known as a very good solvent mostly because of its ionic structure. Mostly water dissolves ionic compounds because of the like dissolves like.
Is water called the universal solute because it dissolves many substances?
The substances that are important to living things and can be dissolved by water, a.k.a. "universal solvent," are easily soluble. The substances that are important to living things are most likely usually positive rather than negative.
Why is water a good solevent?
A solvent is a substance that can dissolve an other substance. Water is one of the best solvents in fact it is often called the "universal" solvent. It is the structure of water that makes it such a great solvent. Because water is polar it will disolve other polar molicules as well as ionic compounds.
