why is water regarded as a universal solvent?

Answer 1

because it is capable of dissolving a large variety of substances.

Answer 2

"An extraordinary property of water is its ability to dissolve other substances. There is hardly a substance known which has not been identified in solution in the earth's waters. Were it not for the solvent property of water, life could not exist because water transfers nutrients vital to life in animals and plants.

A drop of rain water falling through the air dissolves atmospheric gases. When rain reaches the earth, it affects the quality of the land, lakes and rivers."

Answer 3

quite a lot of dry, solid solutes will dissolve in water. water dissolves so many different kinds of solutes that it is called the universal solvent. at home, you can dissolve milk, sugar, salt, squash, juice, carbonated water, detergents, soap etc in water......in the laboratory, salt (sodium chloride), mostly all the metal sulphates (except for barium and lead sulphate) dissolve in water, including all the metal chlorides (except for silver and lead chloride) and all nitrates dissolve in water too.
hydrocarbons, oxides, hydroxides and some carbonates, however will not dissolve in water

Answer 4

it is capable of dissolving many substances.though organic solvents will dissolve more substances(as there are more organic compounds than inorganic ones),water is still capable of dissolving a wide number of compounds both organic as well as inorganic in nature.most organic solvents can dissolve very few(or no)inorganic compounds.

Answer 5

Because it covers 70% of the planet. Being everywhere makes it universal.

Since it is everywhere it is no coincidence that other substances interact with water.

Welcome to the blue planet.

Answer 6

Can dissolve almost anything.