[Campbell Biology P.98] Which statement best describes water's role as a solvent based on t... | Practice Question

Which statement best describes water's role as a solvent based on the provided text?

  • A: Water is a universal solvent because it can dissolve all known substances.
  • B: Water's versatility as a solvent is primarily due to its ability to form strong covalent bonds with solutes.
  • C: Water's polarity allows it to form hydration shells around ionic solutes and hydrogen bonds with nonionic polar solutes, making it a versatile solvent.
  • D: Only ionic compounds can dissolve in water, forming aqueous solutions.

Explanation

The text explains that water's polarity is key to its versatility as a solvent. It forms hydration shells around ions like Na+ and Cl- due to ion-dipole interactions, and forms hydrogen bonds with nonionic polar molecules like sugar and proteins. This allows a wide variety of substances to dissolve in water.