What does the polar nature of water molecules have to do with substances being able to dissolve in water

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Danica Blackwell

Chemistry

24 March, 10:33

What does the polar nature of water molecules have to do with substances being able to dissolve in water

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Kirby · Answer 1

Water is only able to dissolve polar molecules and ions. This is because, for a substance to dissolves in water, it has to positively interact with the water molecules (that have partial positive and negative charges). H-bond will form between the partially positive hydrogen ends of water molecules and the negatively-charged ends of the dissolved molecules. The partially negative oxygen ends of the water molecules, on the other hand, interact with the positively-charged ends of the dissolved molecules.

Molecules with no charge are hydrophobic.