I know that water molecules attract each other, but why do water molecules also attract other sorts of molecules, particularly ions? Solution When salts are dissolved in water theions are separated The water is highly polar The water molecule closest tothe dissolved ions are strongly attached to it.& forming primary or inner hydration shell Positively charged ions such as Na+ attract the negatively charged i.e. oxygen ends of water molecules polarity of water= water is covalent molecule where the electrons are shared between atoms adhesion ofwater molecule = the attraction of water molecule for other molecules called as adhesion.