AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Water’s polarity allows it to form covalent bonds with many substances. Natural water has a pH of approximately 5.6, which is slightly acidic. Acids can dissolve more substances than bases can. Because it is polar, water forms ionic bonds with the ions in substances such as NaCl (salt).

Detailed explanation-2: -Water is considered the universal solvent since it can dissolve both ionic and polar solutes, as well as some nonpolar solutes (in very limited amounts).

Detailed explanation-3: -Because of its polarity, water can form electrostatic interactions (charge-based attractions) with other polar molecules and ions.

Detailed explanation-4: -Polar species are soluble in water, while nonpolar species are soluble in oils and fats. Covalent solubility uses the like dissolves like rule. This means that substances with the same type of polarity will be soluble in one another. Moreover, compounds with differing polarities will be insoluble in one another.

Detailed explanation-5: -As a result of water’s polarity, each water molecule attracts other water molecules because of the opposite charges between them, forming hydrogen bonds. Water also attracts, or is attracted to, other polar molecules and ions, including many biomolecules, such as sugars, nucleic acids, and some amino acids.