Why do so many compounds dissolve in water?

The positive pole of the hydrogen end of the molecule combined with the negative pole of the oxygen end of the H2O molecule makes it so versatile as a solvent

"water is called the "universal solvent" because it dissolves more substances than any other liquid ... Water molecules have a polar arrangement of the oxygen and hydrogen atoms-one side (hydrogen) has a positive electrical charge and the other side (oxygen) had a negative charge."

" a water molecule is made up of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. Molecules that have partially charged positive and negative areas are polar. Because water molecules are polar, water can dissolve many other polar substances."