pls. give proper reasoning..
2007-06-08 05:29:18 · 4 answers · asked by sush sauce 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
An universal solvent is a substance which can dissolve a large number of substances. Ideally it should have a high dielectric constant.
2007-06-08 05:44:14 · answer #1 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water is a very strong solvent, referred to as the universal solvent, dissolving many types of substances. Substances that will mix well and dissolve in water (e.g. salts) are known as "hydrophilic" (water-loving) substances, while those that do not mix well with water (e.g. fats and oils), are known as "hydrophobic" (water-fearing) substances. The ability of a substance to dissolve in water is determined by whether or not the substance can match or better the strong attractive forces that water molecules generate between other water molecules. If a substance has properties that do not allow it to overcome these strong intermolecular forces, the molecules are "pushed out" from amongst the water and do not dissolve.
Good Luck!
2007-06-08 05:37:04 · answer #2 · answered by Rodrigo Pinto 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A universal solvent would dissolve *everything* (store it frozen or in containerless free fall). Water has an amazing ability to dissolve at least a little bit of almost everything including glass (and not including hydrophobic polymers).
Rauchfuss' solvent (elemental sulfur in N-methylimidazole) has an amazing ability to dissolve transition metals. 2:1 choline chloride mp=302 C):urea (mp=133 C) has an amazing ability to dissolve (mp combo = 12 C) transition metal oxides including magnetite.
2007-06-08 05:41:34 · answer #3 · answered by Uncle Al 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
universal solvent is the solvent that can dissolve almost all the substance...water can done this...so it called an universal solvent
2007-06-08 19:39:02 · answer #4 · answered by red devil 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋