Summary:
- Water typically dissolves many ionic compounds and polar molecules.
- Nonpolar molecules such as those found in grease or oil do not dissolve in water.
- Water is attracted to the sodium chloride crystal because water is polar and has both a positive and a negative end.
- The action of the polar water molecules takes the crystal lattice apart.
- The individual ions are then surrounded by solvent particles in a process called solvation.
- Hydration helps to stabilize aqueous solutions by preventing the positive and negative ions from coming back together and forming a precipitate.