Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why is water often called the universal solvent?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

water rapids, Niagara Falls, Canada — water Water is the most plentiful compound on Earth and is essential to life. Although water molecules are simple in structure (H₂O), the physical and chemical properties of water are extraordinarily complicated.

Water is often called the "universal solvent" because its unique polarity allows it to dissolve a wider range of substances than any other liquid.1

This ability is rooted in the structure of the water molecule, which features an uneven distribution of electrical charge: the oxygen atom carries a partial negative charge, while the hydrogen atoms carry partial positive charges. This polar nature enables water to interact effectively with various substances, including inorganic salts, ions, sugars, and amino acids.1

When an ionic solid dissolves in water, the positive ends of the water molecules are attracted to the anions, while the negative ends are attracted to the cations, a process known as hydration. Additionally, water possesses a high dielectric constant, which helps weaken the electrostatic attraction between charged ions, further facilitating their separation and stabilization in solution. Water also readily forms hydrogen bonds with many solutes, which contributes to its effectiveness as a solvent.2134