Question

Which of the following describes water?
i.Solvent for polar solutes
ii.Polar molecule
iii.Good conductor of electricity
A.i, ii and iii
B.i and ii
C.ii and iii
D.i only
E.iii only

Answer 1

Hint: Water is also called the universal solvent because it can dissolve a range of solutes which are generally ionic solids. Water weakly self-dissociates into hydronium and hydroxide ions.

Complete step by step solution:
The molecule of water is made of two hydrogen and one oxygen atom in which the hydrogen atoms having one electron each share their electrons with the oxygen atom having six electrons, needing two more to complete their octet. The bond between the hydrogen and the carbon atoms are polar covalent due to the electronegativity difference between the oxygen atom and the hydrogen atom.
Hence, water is a polar molecule with the negative pole being the oxygen atom while the positive pole being the hydrogen atom. So it being a polar molecule, according to the statement that like dissolves like, water molecules dissolve polar solutes. But water being a covalent compound, it is a bad conductor of electricity because ions are needed for the conduction of electricity without which the electrons cannot be transported so current is not generated.

Hence, the correct answer is option B.

Note:
Water can exist in all the forms of matter and this is the only compound that expands on cooling. The reason being the anomalous expansion of water. Water was also the first liquid to be used in the thermometers.