Which property of water contributes to its ability to dissolve many substances?

The property of water that contributes to its ability to dissolve many substances is its polarity. Water molecules consist of one oxygen atom covalently bonded to two hydrogen atoms. This arrangement causes the oxygen end of the molecule to have a slight negative charge while the hydrogen ends have a slight positive charge, creating a polar molecule with a positive and a negative pole.

Due to this polarity, water can interact with various ionic and polar substances. When an ionic compound, such as table salt, is introduced into water, the positive end of the water molecule attracts the negatively charged ions (anions), while the negative end attracts the positively charged ions (cations). This interaction allows water to surround and separate the ions, effectively dissolving the substance.

The other properties mentioned, such as high viscosity, low specific heat, and high surface tension, do not relate directly to the ability of water to dissolve substances. High viscosity refers to the thickness of a fluid, which affects how it flows but does not influence its solvent capabilities. Low specific heat refers to the amount of energy required to change the temperature of water, which is significant for climate and biological processes but not for solubility. High surface tension, resulting from hydrogen bonding between water molecules, affects how water interacts