Why is water able to easily dissolve ionic compounds?(1 point)

Question

Responses

The poles of water molecules share electrons with the ions in 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 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.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

The electron transfer in ionic compounds results in ions that are attracted to water’s poles.

This explanation refers to how water, being a polar molecule, has partially positive and partially negative ends—its hydrogen atoms are slightly positive, and its oxygen atom is slightly negative. When ionic compounds dissolve in water, the positive ions (cations) are attracted to the negative end (oxygen) of the water molecules, and the negative ions (anions) are attracted to the positive end (hydrogens) of the water molecules, facilitating the process of dissolution.