What is an example of a universal solvent?

Water is known as a universal solvent because it has the ability to dissolve a wide variety of substances. This property is largely due to its polar molecular structure, which allows water molecules to interact with and separate different chemical compounds. When substances dissolve in water, their molecules or ions become surrounded by water molecules, breaking apart and dispersing throughout the solution.

This characteristic of water is essential in numerous biological and chemical processes, including nutrient transport in organisms, chemical reactions, and environmental interactions. It plays a critical role in many agricultural practices, helping to facilitate the uptake of fertilizers and other nutrients by plants, as well as influencing soil chemistry and ecology.

The other substances mentioned do not have the same capacity for dissolving a wide range of materials. For example, alcohols, while they can dissolve some substances, do not act universally across all types of solutes like water does. Similarly, oxygen is a gas that primarily participates in oxidation-reduction reactions rather than acting as a solvent. Acids can also dissolve substances, but they typically interact with specific materials rather than serving as a universal solvent. Thus, water distinctly stands out for its broad solvent capabilities.