Why is water able to dissolve many ionic and polar substances, but not nonpolar substances like oil?

Water molecules are polar: they have slightly positive and negative regions. These regions attract ions and polar molecules, allowing water to surround and separate them so they can dissolve. Oil is nonpolar, so it does not form similarly strong attractions with water and generally does not dissolve in it. Choice A, “Water’s polarity enables it to surround and separate charged particles,” describes this best.

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