which substance is known as the universal solvent because it can dissolve many other substances, including…

Brief Explanations:

Water is called the universal solvent because of its polar nature. The polar water molecule has a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms and a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom. This allows water to interact with a wide variety of substances. For ionic compounds, the polar water molecules can surround the positive and negative ions, pulling them apart (dissolving them). For many polar covalent compounds, water can form hydrogen bonds or other dipole - dipole interactions with them, facilitating dissolution. Mercury, on the other hand, is a heavy metal and is not a universal solvent. It has limited solubility for many common substances and is more known for its toxicity rather than its solvent properties.

Answer:

Water