Question

List at least four reasons why H2O is the ideal solvent for life.

Answer 1

Water is considered as the universal Solvent as compared to the other liquids because of the following reasons;

1. Water can dissolve a viriety of the substances in it.

2. It is the polarity of water due to which any substance get dissolved in the water because hydrogen carries the positive charge on it and the oxygen carries negative charge on it. The ionic compounds get dissociated in water and the positive and negative parts of both water and the ionic compounds get attracted to each other.

3. Hydration shell is formed with the ionic or polar solutes.

4. Water can dissolve hydrophilic solutes in it.

5. Water is not toxic as compared to other commonly used solvents.

6. Unlike other solvents water will not absorb the atmospheric water vapours whicj can decrease the purity of water.

7 water remains liquid at a wide variety of temperatures i.e. From 0 degrees to 100 degrees.