Which of the following properties of water explains its solvent abilities for certain substances?
A. Polarity of water molecules
B. High specific heat
C. High surface tension
D. Kinetic energy of liquid water molecules
Water is a versatile solvent because it can dissolve many different kinds of substances. The reason for this is the polarity of water molecules, which means that they have a slight positive charge on one end and a slight negative charge on the other. This allows water molecules to attract and surround ions or polar molecules of other substances, forming hydration shells that separate them from each other.
Therefore, the Correct Answer is A.