Thanks to its ability to dissolve a wide range of solutes, water is sometimes called the "universal solvent." However, this name isn't entirely accurate, since there are some substances (such as oils) that don't dissolve well in water.

Can all solutes be dissolved?

Solutes and solvents may be any state of matter. Many solutes dissolve in water because water is a very polar compound. A general rule: like dissolves like. For example, polar solvents dissolve polar solutes, and nonpolar solvents dissolve nonpolar solutes.

Is water the only solvent that can dissolve solutes?

Water, which not only dissolves many compounds but also dissolves more substances than any other liquid, is considered the universal solvent. A polar molecule with partially-positive and negative charges, it readily dissolves ions and polar molecules.