BRAINCAKEWater as a Polar Solvent
Water is often called the universal solvent because so many substances dissolve in it. This is a direct result of water being a polar molecule.
Ionic substances. When a salt such as sodium chloride is added to water, water molecules cluster around the ions. The δ− oxygen atoms are attracted to cations such as Na+, and the δ+ hydrogen atoms are attracted to anions such as Cl−. Each ion becomes surrounded by a shell of water molecules (it is hydrated), so the ions separate from the lattice and spread through the water.
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Key terms in this lesson
- hydrogen bond
- A weak attraction between a slightly positive hydrogen atom and a slightly negative oxygen or nitrogen atom on a nearby molecule or chain.
More in Chemistry for Life
- Covalent Bonding
- Important Anions
- Important Cations
- Water
- Water as a Transport Medium
- Water as a Habitat
- Water in Plant Transport Systems
- Water in Hydraulic Mechanisms
All 10 lessons in Chemistry for Life · All Edexcel AS-level Biology topics