Biology Biomolecules PMC 2020
PMDC Verified Question 105 of 142
Water acts as universal solvent because of:
A
Hydrogen bonding
B
High polarity
C
Cohesion and adhesion
D
Heat of vaporization
Tap any option to test your recall and reveal the step-by-step Propolis autopsy.

Propolis Cognitive Error Autopsy

Official Correct Choice:
Option B: High polarity
Concept:

A solvent dissolves solutes. Water is considered a 'universal solvent' because it dissolves more substances than any other liquid.

Solution:

  • Water's ability to act as a powerful solvent is primarily due to its high polarity.


  • The partial negative charge on the oxygen atom and partial positive charges on the hydrogen atoms allow water molecules to attract and surround charged ions and other polar molecules, breaking them apart and keeping them in solution.


Why other options are incorrect:

  • Hydrogen bonding: This is a consequence of water's polarity and aids in dissolving, but the foundational reason it interacts with ionic compounds (like NaCl) is its dipole nature/polarity.


  • Cohesion/Adhesion & Heat of vaporization: These govern physical fluid dynamics and thermal regulation, not solvent capacity.

Quality & Fidelity Assurance: Every question on BeambePrep is rigorously curated against the official PMDC syllabus with zero filler, zero out-of-syllabus content, and zero typos. When an authentic past paper originally contained a historical mistake or ambiguity from the examining board (such as UHS or NUMS), BeambePrep faithfully reflects the original paper while detailing the nuance and scientific consensus in the autopsy above.

Previous Question All Biomolecules MCQs Next Question

Want to solve full-length papers under timed exam conditions?

Practice with zero-scroll lockdown sprints, dynamic latency zone timers, live peer selection telemetry, and the automated Amber mistake recovery loop.

Enter Arena Sprint iOS App Android App