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Multiple Choice
What property of water molecules allows water to dissolve many substances?
A
Hydrogen bonding
B
High molecular weight
C
Low boiling point
D
Nonpolar nature
Verified step by step guidance
1
Water is known as a 'universal solvent' due to its ability to dissolve many substances. This property is primarily due to the polar nature of water molecules.
A water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to one oxygen atom. The oxygen atom is more electronegative than the hydrogen atoms, which creates a partial negative charge on the oxygen and a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms.
This polarity allows water molecules to form hydrogen bonds with other polar substances. Hydrogen bonding is a type of dipole-dipole interaction where the positive hydrogen atom of one water molecule is attracted to the negative oxygen atom of another molecule.
The ability to form hydrogen bonds makes water an excellent solvent for ionic compounds and other polar molecules, as these interactions help to separate and surround the solute particles, facilitating their dissolution.
Therefore, the property of water that allows it to dissolve many substances is its ability to form hydrogen bonds, which is a result of its polar nature.