Question 41 from UPSC CSE 2021 - Basic Science

Question

Water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid because

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. it is dipolar in nature

Strategy: Focus on the property that directly explains dissolving power. Eliminate options like good heat conduction and specific heat, as they relate to thermal behavior, not solubility. Identify 'dipolar' as the key concept, as it describes water's ability to interact with solutes. Disregard general features like being an oxide of hydrogen, which do not explain this specific property.

Key Info: ## Water as a Universal Solvent

Water is known for its exceptional solvent capabilities. This property arises from its molecular structure and polarity.

- **Molecular Structure:** Water (H2O) is a dipolar molecule with a partial positive charge on hydrogen atoms and a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom.
- **Dissolution Mechanism:** This polarity allows water molecules to surround and separate ions and other polar molecules, facilitating their dissolution.
- **Soluble Substances:** This property enables ionic and polar substances, such as salts, sugars, acids, and bases, to dissolve easily.
- **Irrelevant Properties:** Good heat conduction and high specific heat capacity influence thermal behavior, not solubility. Being an oxide of hydrogen is a compositional fact and does not explain dissolving power.
- **Fundamental Importance:** Water's solvent capability is essential for biological, chemical, and environmental processes, including nutrient transport and chemical reactions.

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Option B: it is a good conductor of heat

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Option C: it has a high value of specific heat

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Option D: it is an oxide of hydrogen