What causes things to dissolve in water?

Answer 1

Water is a polar substance which means that it can provide an energy release (both enthalpic and entropic) by dissolving other polar substances. Reactions always proceed to the result of minimum energy.

Answer 2

Water is polar, so it has a end that is more positive in charge and another that is more negative in charge. Things like salt or sugar can be split into different parts. The polarity of water splits them, the negative part of salt (Cl) is stabilized by the positive part of water (H). Whereas the negative part of water (O) stabilizes the positive part of salt (Na). The water pretty much surrounds the separated parts of the salt (called ions) and keeps them apart.

Answer 3

Because water is polar. The 2 Hydrogens are positive and the Oxygen is negative. The two hydrogens lean towards the one side, so the molecule kind of looks like Mickey Mouse. The object being dissolve attaches on to these water molecules, they are surrounded by them so they are completely separate from other molecules of that matter.

Answer 4

They will only dissolve if they are molecularly compatible meaning that molecules from the item will bond with the H2O molecules slowly disassembling the item in question and creating a solution out of the water.

Answer 5

Polarity gives water the ability to dissolve things.

Answer 6

Water is considered as the universal solvent. Its polarity enables it to dissolve substances that have either positive or negative charges.

Answer 7

Water CAN'T DISSOLVE EVERYTHING.

it can't dissolve metal and water can't dissolve oil nor mix with it, how old are you!

So water can't dissolve everything.