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The difference in the electronegativity of oxygen and water pulls the bonded electrons closer to the oxygen atom than the two hydrogen atoms. This creates a dipole moment (a charge separation along the bond), leaving the oxygen with a partial negative charge, and the hydrogen with a partial positive charge. This is known as a "polar" molecule", and will dissolve other polar substances. With the exception of homo-nuclear diatomics (N2, O2, etc.) all molecules contain at least some degree of polarity, and therefore are able to dissolve in a polar substance. Because water is very polar, it tends to dissolve other highly polar substances ("like dissolves like") extremely well, and will even dissolve molecules that are considered "non-polar" (but they still have a small dipole moment), albeit to a lesser extent.

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Q: Why do so many substances dissolve in water?
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What property does water have that allows it to dissolve many substances?

Water's excellent solvent properties are due to its polarity. The oxygen atom has a partial negative charge while the hydrogen atoms have a partial positive charge. Due to this dipole moment, water can easily solvate many polar substances.


Why water dissloves so many different substances?

Water dissolves many substances but its molecules have both a positive and negative side. Each part of the molecule can bond with the molecules of many other substances and create a new solution. This is the reason water is considered the universal solvent.


4 Do all substances dissolve in water to form a solution?

No, not all substances dissolve in water to form a solution. Cooking oil is a good example, if you mix with water it will remain separated and float to the top - it is less dense. Water would have to break almost all its intermolecular hydrogen bonds in order to accomodate it (which of course it doesn't), and therefore it does not form a solution. Solubility depends on what you are adding to the water. If you are adding an alcohol for example, it has O-H bonds which will readily form hydrogen bonds with the water molecules, and so dissolves. Water is also a polar solvent, so ionic substances will also tend to dissolve in it. Hope that helps!


Do solutes dissolve solvents?

It is the other way around. The solvent dissolves the solute. A polar solvent, like water, dissolves other polar substances and many ionic substances. A nonpolar solvent dissolves other nonpolar substances. Basically, like dissolves like.


Does sugar dissolve in gasoline?

Usually, it does dissolve, but when it doesn't, I can come up with two reasons: 1. The water is too cold since an increased temperature increases the solubility. 2. The water is already saturated with dissolved sugar (or something else that you can dissolve in water). This is when all water molecules are 'occupied' with sugar molecules so that there are no more free water molecules who can make a hydrogen bond with the sugar. The warmer your water is, the higher the solubility is.

Related questions

Why water dissolve so many different substances?

Water can dissolve so many different substances because water has an unequel distribution of positive and negative charges(polar molecule) which attract many ions and other polar molecules.


How do the properties of water account for the large number of substances that dissolve in water?

Water is a polar substance, which means that any other polar substances will dissolve in it. The opposite is mineral turpentine which is non-polar so all non-polar substances dissolve in it.


Which substances dissolves in water?

like dissolves like..water is polar so polar or ionic substances will dissolve in water


What will dissolve in alcohol?

Alcohol is polar,so polar substances would dissolve in it.eg water.


Are liquids soluble or insoluble in water?

Many liquids dissolve in water, and many do not. In chemistry , there is a rule "like dissolves like", so if the nature of the liquid is similar to water i.e. highly polar, it will be soluble. This rule is not infallible. Butanol is very polar, but is only about 2% soluble in water.


Why does cyclohexanone dissolve in benzophenone and not in water?

Cyclohexanone and benzophenone are both non-polar. Water is polar. "Like dissolves like" so non-polar substances dissovle other non-polar substances and polar substances dissolve other polar substances.


Why can water dissolve so many compounds?

Water, (h2o) is a polar compound, wherein it has a magnetic charge. This charge attracts an opposite charge such as salt and decouples the sodium chloride ion.


What property does water have that allows it to dissolve many substances?

Water's excellent solvent properties are due to its polarity. The oxygen atom has a partial negative charge while the hydrogen atoms have a partial positive charge. Due to this dipole moment, water can easily solvate many polar substances.


What is the biological exception to water being the universal solvent?

Many polar substances can dissolve in water. Lipids cannot dissolve in water because lipids are nonpolar, so there is no attraction between them. Water can stick to itself and other things. Water also expands when it freezes.


What factors does water dissolve in a substance?

water have hydrogen bonding so it can dissolve most of the substances it have partial +ve charge on H and partial _ve charge on O.it can make hydrogen bonding with poler solutions or substances.but it can not dissolve the the non poler substances because they can not make hydrogen bonding with water


What property of water allows it to dissolve so many compounds?

Water is also a good solvent due to its polarity. Substances that will mix well and dissolve in water (e.g. salts) are known as hydrophilic (water-loving) substances, while those that do not mix well with water (e.g. fats and oils), are known as hydrophobic (water-fearing) substances. The ability of a substance to dissolve in water is determined by whether or not the substance can match or better the strong attractive forces that water molecules generate between other water molecules. If a substance has properties that do not allow it to overcome these strong intermolecular forces, the molecules are pushed out from the water, and do not dissolve. Contrary to the common misconception, water and hydrophobic substances do not repel, and the hydration of a hydrophobic surface is energetically, but not entropically, favorable


Why do mothball powder and margarene dissolve in kerosene but not in the water?

Because "like dissolves like" eg. polar substances dissolve polar substances. Mothball powder, margarine, and kerosene are all non-polar. Water however is polar, so the mothball powder and margarine cannot dissolve in it.