Why does some substances dissolve in water

Search Search. Water Science School. Water Science Activity Center Opinion surveys, questionnaires, and interactive learning Activity center. Teacher's Resources Activities, diagrams, quizzes Check it out! Looking at water, you might think that it's the most simple thing around. Pure water is practically colorless, odorless, and tasteless. But it's not at all simple and plain and it is vital for all life on Earth.

Where there is water there is life, and where water is scarce, life has to struggle or just "throw in the towel. Skip to main content. Search Search. Water Science School. Water, the Universal Solvent. Water Properties Information by Topic Learn more. Science Center Objects Overview Related Science Publications We need to take the statement "Water is the universal solvent" with a grain of salt pun intended. Credit: coffeecupsandcrayons.

Below are other science topics associated with water properties. Slightly soluble salts give solutions that fall between these extremes. Soluble Salts 1. The nitrate NO 3 - ion forms soluble salts. The chloride Cl - , bromide Br - , and iodide I - ions generally form soluble salts. ZnCl 2 is soluble, but CuBr is not. The sulfate SO 4 2- ion generally forms soluble salts. Insoluble Salts 1.

Sulfides S 2- are usually insoluble. Oxides O 2- are usually insoluble. This particular resource used the following sources:. Skip to main content. Aqueous Reactions. Search for:. Learning Objective Explain why some molecules do not dissolve in water. Key Points Water dissociates salts by separating the cations and anions and forming new interactions between the water and ions.