Why is water a good solvent?

Answer 1

The arrangement of atoms in a molecule of water causes the molecule to be imbalanced. This imbalance causes a very small magnetic field, so it attracts many types of other molecules and sticks to them. So for example, when dissolving salt into water, the charged molecules of water attract the salt molecules and they stick together easily.

A water molecule is formed when two atoms of hydrogen bond covalently with an atom of oxygen. In a covalent bond electrons are shared between atoms. In water, the sharing is not equal. The oxygen atom attracts the electrons more strongly than the hydrogen. This gives water an asymmetrical distribution of charge. Molecules that have ends with partial negative and positive charges are known as polar molecules. It is this polar property that allows water to separate polar solute molecules and explains why water can dissolve so many substances.

The solvent properties of water are vital in Biology, because many biochemical reactions take place only within aqueous solutions. 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.
Since water is polar, it is a good solvent

Answer 2

Water is a good solvent due to its polarity. It's hydrogen side is slightly positively charged, and its oxygen side is slightly negatively charged. This allows it to dissolve soluble ionic compounds effectively.

Answer 3

The arrangement of atoms in a molecule of water causes the molecule to be imbalanced. This imbalance causes a very small magnetic field, so it attracts many types of other molecules and sticks to them. So for example, when dissolving salt into water, the charged molecules of water attract the salt molecules and they stick together easily.

A water molecule is formed when two atoms of hydrogen bond covalently with an atom of oxygen. In a covalent bond electrons are shared between atoms. In water, the sharing is not equal. The oxygen atom attracts the electrons more strongly than the hydrogen. This gives water an asymmetrical distribution of charge. Molecules that have ends with partial negative and positive charges are known as polar molecules. It is this polar property that allows water to separate polar solute molecules and explains why water can dissolve so many substances.

The solvent properties of water are vital in Biology, because many biochemical reactions take place only within aqueous solutions. 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.
Since water is polar, it is a good solvent

Answer 4

Water is a good solvent because it is polar or contains a highly positive hydrogen atom and highly negative oxygen atom. It dissolves salts that are polar and highly polar gases like carbon dioxide.

Answer 5

Water is an excellent solvent because it is a polar molecule.

Answer 6

Its polar! The polar nature of a water molecule means that it is good at pulling things apart at the molecular level.

Answer 7

Water is an effective solvent because it is a polar molecule.

Answer 8

Because it is non-polar.

Answer 9

Dissolve many other substances