Chemical Properties of Water as a Universal Solvent

Water features a highly asymmetrical arrangement of hydrogen and oxygen atoms, which creates a strong dipole moment with positive and negative poles. This dipolar nature allows water molecules to break the electrostatic bonds of ionic solutes and surround them via hydration spheres, making it an incredibly effective universal solvent. > The strong dipolar structure of water molecules allows it to dissolve a wide range of polar and ionic solutes. Answer: (a).