Why is water sometimes called the “universal solvent”? a. The adhesion level in H2O is very high. b. Many substances dissolve in H2O. c. The density of H2O is 1.0 g/cm3. d. The hydrogen bonding of H2O is very low.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: b. Many substances dissolve in H₂O.
Water is often called the “universal solvent” because of its ability to dissolve more substances than any other liquid. This remarkable property is primarily due to the polarity of water molecules. A water molecule is made of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. Because of the unequal sharing of electrons, the oxygen atom becomes slightly negative while the hydrogen atoms become slightly positive, creating a polar molecule.
This polarity allows water to interact with and surround many kinds of solute particles. When an ionic compound like sodium chloride (table salt) is placed in water, the positive part of the water molecule (hydrogen) is attracted to the negative chloride ions, and the negative part (oxygen) is attracted to the positive sodium ions. These interactions pull the ions away from the crystal and cause them to dissolve.
In addition to ionic compounds, water also dissolves many polar covalent substances such as sugars and alcohols. However, water does not dissolve nonpolar substances well, like oils or fats. Despite this limitation, water still dissolves more substances than any other known solvent, which makes it extremely valuable in biological systems, chemical reactions, and industrial processes.
Other choices do not explain why water is called the universal solvent. Option a refers to adhesion, which is related to how water sticks to other surfaces but not directly to its dissolving ability. Option c talks about density, which has no direct connection to solubility. Option d is incorrect because water actually has strong hydrogen bonding, not low.
Therefore, the best reason why water is sometimes called the universal solvent is that many substances dissolve in H₂O, making it vital for life and scientific processes.