Why can alcohols dissolve many ionic compounds and other polar substances?

Alcohols are effective solvents for ionic compounds and other polar substances primarily because they are strongly polar themselves.12

This polarity stems from the presence of the hydroxyl group (―OH). Within this group, the oxygen atom is significantly more electronegative than the carbon or hydrogen atoms to which it is bonded. Consequently, the carbon-oxygen and hydrogen-oxygen bonds are polar, resulting in a slightly negative charge on the oxygen atom and slightly positive charges on the carbon and hydrogen atoms.1

Because of this strong polarity, alcohols can interact with and dissolve polar and ionic solutes more effectively than nonpolar hydrocarbons can. This behavior follows the chemical principle that "like dissolves like," where substances with similar polarities are more likely to form a solution. While the hydroxyl group provides the necessary polarity for solubility, it is important to note that as the size of the nonpolar hydrocarbon chain increases in higher-molecular-weight alcohols, their overall ability to dissolve polar substances may be influenced by the increasing hydrophobic character of the molecule.123