A solvent is a substance that can dissolve other matter; because all chemical reactions that support life occur in water, water is known as the universal solvent. In fact, it is the polar nature of the water molecule (it contains both positive and negative poles) that causes it to act as a solvent—and any substance with an electric charge will be attracted to one end of the molecule. (If a molecule is attracted to water, it is termed hydrophilic; if it is repelled by water, it is termed hydrophobic.)