QQuestionChemistry
QuestionChemistry
Water is often called the universal solvent because many different substances dissolve well in water. What causes water to dissolve so many substances?
A. Water is a nonpolar molecule with no charged ends.
B. Water is a covalent compound with no charged ends.
C. Water is a polar molecule with positive and negative ends.
D. Water is an ionic compound with positive and negative ends.
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Answer
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Step 1: Understand the concept of polar and nonpolar molecules
Polar molecules have positively and negatively charged ends due to the uneven distribution of electrons. Nonpolar molecules have an even distribution of electrons, resulting in no charged ends.
Step 2: Identify the properties of water molecules
Water ($$H_{2}O$$) is a polar molecule due to the bent shape of the molecule and the difference in electronegativity between hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
This leads to partial negative charges near the oxygen atom and partial positive charges near the hydrogen atoms.
Final Answer
The correct answer is option C: Water is a polar molecule with positive and negative ends.
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