system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
What makes water such a good solvent?

What is it about water that means so many different substances dissolve in it?

EDIT: Wow, I didn't expect so many answers! Thank you for taking the time to explain it to me (and maybe others)!
gpt
It has to do with polarity. The small water molecules have different electrical charges at each end which means that other polar molecules can dissolve in it.

Apolar molecules, like oil, cannot dissolve in water but will dissolve in other apolar liquids like gasoline. Apolar molecules do not have different electrical charges at each end. 

This is why oil and water don't mix.