Dipole Moment of Water: Explaining Its Ability to Solve Substances

[Reshma]

Certain molecules have built-in dipole moments. The dipole moment of water is unusually large: 6.1 x 10^-30C.m. How does this account for the effectiveness of water as a solvent?

 

[Gokul43201]

Looks like a standard textbook question.

This thread shoud go into the Coursework section where it will be subject to the requirement that you first tell us what you think.

 

[Reshma]

OK, I did not realize this is a HW-type question .

So, in a water molecule, electrons cluster around the oxygen atom and the molecule is bent at an angle of 105 degrees. How does this make water an excellent solvent?

 

[Umabel]

The molecule is polar, that should be the "bridge" between clustered electrons and excelent solvents.

I can't blame you though. The question is worded all weird but the concept is nevertheless the same, so you are better off researching about this.