Water as a Solvent
Definition
Water’s capacity to dissolve a wide range of substances, driven by the same molecular polarity that builds its hydrogen-bond network.
The polarity that lets water molecules organize into a cooperative network also lets them reach outward to pull on charges, test bonds, and invade crystal lattices. Water dissolves ionic and polar species effectively but interacts only weakly with nonpolar substances. The hydrogen-bond network keeps the process flexible, letting liquid water continuously reorganize around whatever it grips.
Related concepts
Hydration Energy · Polarity · Hydrogen-Bond Network
How it connects
- this enables Dissolved Solids
- Polarity enables this
- Hydrogen bond enables this
Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🧪 chemistry