Why is water called the 'universal solvent?

2 Answers
Feb 21, 2017

Because most solutes have some solubility in water...........

Explanation:

Take some insoluble solutes, e.g. sulfur, metal phosphates, metal sulfides, all have some solubility in water. Commonly, we refer to a solute that has a solubility of less than #0.1*g# per #100*mL# of water, that's #"1000 ppm"# or #1*g*L^-1#, as #"insoluble"#.

Feb 21, 2017

Water is a "universal solvent" as it dissolves more substance than any other liquid in the world.

Explanation:

This is why water is so important for sustaining life