What is the universal solvent?

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Multiple Choice

What is the universal solvent?

Explanation:
Water's polarity and its ability to form strong hydrogen bonds let it surround and separate a wide range of solute particles. This creates hydration shells around ions and polar molecules, enabling many substances—like salts, sugars, and acids—to dissolve. Nonpolar substances such as oil don’t interact well with water, so they don’t dissolve, while alcohol, though miscible with water, doesn’t extend dissolving power to as broad a set of substances. Mercury isn’t a dissolving medium for most materials under normal conditions.

Water's polarity and its ability to form strong hydrogen bonds let it surround and separate a wide range of solute particles. This creates hydration shells around ions and polar molecules, enabling many substances—like salts, sugars, and acids—to dissolve. Nonpolar substances such as oil don’t interact well with water, so they don’t dissolve, while alcohol, though miscible with water, doesn’t extend dissolving power to as broad a set of substances. Mercury isn’t a dissolving medium for most materials under normal conditions.

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