Which solvent is not a universal solvent?

• A. Cedarwood oil
• B. Chloroform
• C. Xylene
• D. Toluene

Answer: (A)

Water is often called the universal solvent because it dissolves the widest range of substances due to its polarity. Among the options, cedarwood oil stands out as not being a general-purpose solvent. It’s an essential oil with a mostly nonpolar composition, used more for fragrance or as a clearing agent in some contexts, and it doesn’t dissolve a broad variety of solutes the way typical laboratory solvents do. In contrast, chloroform, xylene, and toluene are classic solvents that dissolve many organic compounds, oils, fats, and resins, making them versatile tools in lab workflows. So cedarwood oil isn’t considered a universal solvent, while the others have broader solvation capabilities in common laboratory practice.