What is considered the universal solvent?

Water is referred to as the universal solvent due to its remarkable ability to dissolve a wide variety of substances. This characteristic arises from water's polar molecular structure, which allows it to interact effectively with different solutes—particularly ionic and polar compounds.

When ionic substances like salt or polar molecules like sugar are introduced to water, the positive and negative ends of the water molecules attract and surround the particles of the solute, breaking them apart and facilitating their dispersion throughout the solution. This property is crucial not only in laboratory settings but also in biological systems, where water's ability to dissolve essential nutrients, minerals, and gases supports various life processes.

In contrast, oil and alcohol do not exhibit the same level of solvent versatility as water. Oil is non-polar and typically dissolves non-polar substances, while alcohol has some solubility characteristics but is less effective than water in dissolving a broader spectrum of compounds. A sugar solution, while able to dissolve sugar, does not qualify as the universal solvent since it is essentially water with dissolved sugar, thereby relying on water’s properties. Hence, water’s unique properties affirm its role as the universal solvent in nature and science.