KEY TAKEAWAYS •
Solvents can be polar or nonpolar, depending on the dielectric constant.
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Solvents can be aprotic or protic, depending on whether or not it can donate a hydrogen ion.
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The dielectric constant is one way to determine if a solvent is polar or nonpolar.
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In solvents, the phrase “like attracts like” involves the tendency of polar substances to dissolve in polar solvents and nonpolar substances to dissolve in nonpolar solvents.
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Solvation involves the dissolution (gradually or quickly) of a solute into a solvent.
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