Why is whater described as the universal solvent?

Question

1. there is more water on earth than any other common solvent.
2. everything dissolves in water.
3. there is more water in the universe than any other common solvent.
4. most compounds in nature are either ionic or polar.
5. more substances dissolve in water than in any other common solvent.

im thinking 1,4, or 5? leaning more towards 5?

Answer 1

5

I am surprised the chemist picked 1... just because there is a lot of something doesn't mean it works. #5 says it actually is a solvent... # 1 just says there's a lot of it. Looks like a badly written question which is probably answered in your textbook if you just look back in the chapter. good, high school (or whatever grade your in) is just about regurgitating the information they tell you, right or wrong... and playing logic games on mulitple choice questions.

Answer 2

I pick #1

1. For me this is the best of what we have to choose from. I can’t think of a more abundant liquid on the earth than water. And because we constrained the problem to the surface of the earth, we have a better chance of reaching a valid answer.

2. Not everything dissolves in water. Diamonds don’t dissolve in water, (though they can be destroyed by high pressure and steam). Granted small amounts of even stuff that not supposed to dissolve in water (like oil) can be detected at very low levels in water.

3. The universe is far too big a place for any of us to be generalizing about. Who the heck knows?

4. What is the center of the earth made from? We have some guesses, but no one has been there. Maybe it is made of diamonds (see answer #2). This alternative requires us to make many assumptions.

5. This answer seems nice too. But what is a common solvent? Because if supercritical fluid extraction is common, I might go with carbon dioxide. Not common you say? Well where does all that decaffeinated coffee come from? So where do we draw that line between common and uncommon? If they didn’t define it in the question, it is subject to the interpretation of the test taker.

Answer 3

5

Answer 4

5

Answer 5

definitely 5. yes its tru that more water exists naturally and that its ionic, but 5 is the most suitable answer