Question

1. what property of water molecules allows water to dissolve many substances?
2. what is the difference between a solute and a solvent? give an example.

Explanation:

1. Water is a polar molecule. Its polar nature allows it to interact with and dissolve many ionic and polar - covalent substances through ion - dipole or dipole - dipole interactions.
2. A solute is the substance that is dissolved in a solution, while a solvent is the substance in which the solute is dissolved. For example, in a salt - water solution, salt (sodium chloride) is the solute and water is the solvent.

Answer:

1. Polarity.
2. A solute is the dissolved substance, a solvent is the dissolving substance. Example: In salt - water solution, salt is the solute and water is the solvent.