Question

practice it! select the statement(s) that describe what might happen if water was not a universal solvent. plants would not be able to absorb water into its roots and bring it up to the leaves to assist in photosynthesis. organisms that live in water would freeze in the winter because the water would freeze all the way through. organisms that need the correct ratio of salt and water to survive would die because the salt would not dissolve. salt would build up in the oceans and beaches without dissolving.

Explanation:

Water being a universal solvent allows it to dissolve many substances. If it wasn't, salts and other solutes couldn't dissolve. Organisms needing salt - water balance would die as salt wouldn't dissolve. Also, salt would build - up in oceans and beaches. Plant water - absorption is related to other properties like cohesion and adhesion, not water being a universal solvent. The freezing of water in winter for aquatic organisms is related to water's density and heat capacity, not its solvent property.

Answer:

Organisms that need the correct ratio of salt and water to survive would die because the salt would not dissolve.
Salt would build up in the oceans and beaches without dissolving.