UPSC Previous Year Question | Prelims GS | 2021

Water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid because

  1. it is dipolar in nature
  2. it is a good conductor of heat
  3. it has high value of specific heat
  4. it is an oxide of hydrogen

Answer

Correct Answer

it is dipolar in nature

Explanation

Water molecules are polar (dipolar), with partial positive and negative ends, so they can surround and separate ions and dissolve many polar substances, which makes water the 'universal solvent'.

Topics: chemistry, properties of water, science & technology, water as a universal solvent