Why can water act as a solvent for ions?

Solvents are substances that can dissolve other substances.Water can act as a solvent for ions (charged particles/molecules) because it is dipolar (the positive electrons from the 2x hydrogen are pulled towards the oxygen end making the oxygen end slightly negative and the lack of electrons on the hydrogen end makes that side slightly positive).Ions are charged particles therefore positive ions will be attracted to the slightly negative Oxygen end of the water molecule and the negative ions will be attracted to the slightly positive hydrogen end of the molecule. The ions will get totally surrounded by the water molecule and dissolve.

Answered by Ugo O. Biology tutor

3310 Views

See similar Biology A Level tutors

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

Can you explain the process of DNA transcription?


What are the stages of mitosis?


A drug used in a scientific trial is a competitive inhibitor of the elctron transport chain in the light dependent reaction, what affect will this have on the amount of glucose synthesised by the plant? (4 marks)


Outline the process of DNA replication


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences