Biology / Unit 1 Bio 0150 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Water as a Solvent
Captions available
The idea
Water dissolves many substances because its polar molecules surround and separate charged or polar particles from each other.
In practice
Table salt dissolves in water because water molecules surround each sodium and chloride ion, pulling the ionic lattice apart.
Where people slip
Water dissolves polar and ionic substances well, but nonpolar substances such as oil resist mixing into it.
Your place on the trail
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