Explain why water is called the universal solvent.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for an explanation of the reasons why water is referred to as the universal solvent. This requires an understanding of water's chemical properties and its ability to dissolve a wide variety of substances.
Answer
Water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid, making it the universal solvent.
Water is called the universal solvent because it has the ability to dissolve a wide range of substances more than any other liquid.
Answer for screen readers
Water is called the universal solvent because it has the ability to dissolve a wide range of substances more than any other liquid.
More Information
Water's polar nature and its hydrogen bonding ability allow it to interact and dissolve various ionic and polar compounds.
Tips
A common mistake is to think that water can dissolve anything, but this is not true, it cannot dissolve non-polar substances like oils.
Sources
- Why is Water the Universal Solvent? - USGS - usgs.gov
- Water as the Universal Solvent - ChemTalk - chemistrytalk.org
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