can an element dissolve in water without reacting with it?

 

element by itself is nonpolar, yes? even if its diatomic, theres no difference in electronegativity...

The gases are soluble. Halogens are all at least slightly soluble.

Even the monatomic noble gases are all at least slightly soluble in water.

ah, interesting I thought only polar compounds dissolved in water.

ah, interesting I thought only polar compounds dissolved in water.

 

Polar compounds often dissolve better in water... But it's not as black and white as you thought

there are other intermolecular forces than just H-bonding and dipole-dipole interactions (the forces which arise from polar molecules getting close)