Why is water able to easily dissolve ionic compounds?(1 point)
Responses
The electron transfer in ionic compounds results in ions that are attracted to water’s poles.
The electron transfer in ionic compounds results in ions that are attracted to water’s poles.
The opposite charges of ionic compounds repel each other, so water molecules can separate the ions.
The opposite charges of ionic compounds repel each other, so water molecules can separate the ions.
The bonds between water molecules are easily broken by the strong ions of ionic compounds.
The bonds between water molecules are easily broken by the strong ions of ionic compounds.
The poles of water molecules share electrons with the ions in ionic compounds.
The electron transfer in ionic compounds results in ions that are attracted to water’s poles.
The electron transfer in ionic compounds results in ions that are attracted to water’s poles.
The correct answer is: "The electron transfer in ionic compounds results in ions that are attracted to water’s poles."
Explanation:
Ionic compounds are made up of positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions) held together by strong electrostatic forces. When these compounds are dissolved in water, the water molecules surround the individual ions, breaking the ionic bonds and forming a hydration shell. This process is known as hydration.
Water is a polar molecule, meaning it has a partial positive charge on one end (hydrogen) and a partial negative charge on the other end (oxygen). The polar nature of water allows it to interact with the charged ions of the ionic compound.
In the process of dissolution, the positive ends of water molecules (the hydrogen atoms) are attracted to the negatively charged ions (anions) in the ionic compound. Similarly, the negative ends of water molecules (the oxygen atom) are attracted to the positively charged ions (cations) in the compound. These attractive forces between the water molecules and the ions overcome the ionic bond strength, causing the compound to dissociate into its constituent ions.
Therefore, water is able to easily dissolve ionic compounds due to the attraction between the polar water molecules and the charged ions in the compound.