Water: The Universal Solvent Quiz

Which of the following best explains why water is often called the 'universal solvent'?

• It can dissolve all substances
• It can dissolve more substances than any other liquid
• It only dissolves organic compounds
• It dissolves substances faster than any other liquid

How do hydrogen bonds contribute to water's unique properties?

• They make water molecules repel each other
• They create strong attractions between water molecules
• They prevent water from freezing
• They make water non-polar

Which property of water allows some insects to walk on its surface?

• Adhesion
• Cohesion
• Capillary action
• Osmosis

What is the primary cause of capillary action in plants?

• Cohesion
• Adhesion
• Osmosis
• Transpiration

In a solution, what is the substance that does the dissolving called?

• Solute
• Solvent
• Solution
• Mixture

Which of the following best describes the relationship between water's polarity and its ability to act as a solvent?

• Water's polarity allows it to dissolve only polar substances
• Water's polarity enables it to dissolve both polar and non-polar substances
• Water's polarity has no effect on its solvent properties
• Water's polarity makes it unable to dissolve any substances

What characteristic do acids share in aqueous solutions?

• They accept protons
• They donate protons
• They are always basic
• They have a pH above 7

Which of the following is NOT a typical characteristic of bases?

• They feel slippery
• They taste bitter
• They accept protons in solution
• They have a pH below 7

What is the pH of a neutral solution?

• 0
• 7
• 14
• Any value between 0 and 14

How might water's cohesive properties be important for plants?

• It allows plants to repel water
• It helps water move up plant stems against gravity
• It prevents plants from absorbing water
• It makes plant cells rigid