Question

Part A: Explain why and how the polar covalent bonds found in water molecules are responsible for water's ability to dissolve many substances, particularly ionic compounds such as salt. (3 points)
Part B: Identify the solvent and the solute in the solution that has been created in part A from the dissolving of salt in water. (1 point)

Answer 1

Part A: Water molecules are polar, meaning that they are neutrally charged overall, but with partial positive charges on the H atoms and a partial negative charge on the O atom. Thus, polar molecules like the salt, are like the water, neutrally charged and its ions interact with both the partially positive and partially negative parts of the H2O molecules.

Part B: In a dissolution of salt in water, the solvent is the water and solute is the salt. Solvent is a substance that allows the dispersion of another substance in itself, like the water in this solution. A solute is a substance that can be dissolved, dispersed in a solvent.