AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Water is called the “universal solvent” because it is capable of dissolving more substances than any other liquid. This is important to every living thing on earth.

Detailed explanation-2: -Because of its polarity and ability to form hydrogen bonds, water makes an excellent solvent, meaning that it can dissolve many different kinds of molecules.

Detailed explanation-3: -Water is called a ‘universal solvent’ because water can dissolve much more substances than any other liquid found in nature but water cannot dissolve every substance. For example-water cannot dissolve fats, waxes, and hydroxides due to the low solubility of oppositely charged particles.

Detailed explanation-4: -Water is a good solvent due to its polarity. The relatively small size of water molecules typically allows many water molecules to surround one molecule of solute. The partially negative dipoles of the water are attracted to positively charged components of the solute, and vice versa for the positive dipoles.