Water is a good solvent due to its polarity. The oxygen atom in water attracts the electrons more strongly than the hydrogen atoms. Hence the molecule has partial positive and partial negative ends. This allows water molecules to seperate polar solute molecules. When a solute is dissolved in water, the solvent molecules surround the solute molecule. The relative small size of water molecules enable many of them to surround one solute molecule. Ionic substances dissociate to charged ions while covalent substances which are polar have charged ends. This allows for water (a polar solvent) to easily dissolve such substances. Hence ionic substance and polar covalent substances dissolve easily in water. Solution Water is a good solvent due to its polarity. The oxygen atom in water attracts the electrons more strongly than the hydrogen atoms. Hence the molecule has partial positive and partial negative ends. This allows water molecules to seperate polar solute molecules. When a solute is dissolved in water, the solvent molecules surround the solute molecule. The relative small size of water molecules enable many of them to surround one solute molecule. Ionic substances dissociate to charged ions while covalent substances which are polar have charged ends. This allows for water (a polar solvent) to easily dissolve such substances. Hence ionic substance and polar covalent substances dissolve easily in water..