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.

UO
Answered by Ugo O. Biology tutor

4784 Views

See similar Biology A Level tutors

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

Which of these nucleotide bases is NOT present in RNA: Cytosine, Thymine, Guanine, Adenine, Uracil


Blue-spotted tree monitors (Varanus macraei) are found on the Indonesian island of Batanta. Describe how you could use the mark-release-recapture method to estimate the number of Varanus macraei on the island. (4 marks)


Can you name the 3 different energy systems and give an example when each would be used?


Describe the process of transcription in detail.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning