Here's why:

* Polarity: Water is a polar solvent, meaning it has a positive and negative end due to the uneven sharing of electrons in its molecule. Salt (NaCl) is also an ionic compound with a positive (Na+) and negative (Cl-) charge. The positive end of water molecules attracts the negative chloride ions, and the negative end of water molecules attracts the positive sodium ions. This strong attraction helps to break the ionic bonds in salt and dissolve it.

* Hydrogen Bonding: Water forms strong hydrogen bonds with itself and with salt ions, further contributing to its ability to dissolve salt.

Alcohol, on the other hand, is less polar than water. While it can dissolve some salts, the attraction between alcohol molecules and salt ions is weaker than the attraction between water molecules and salt ions.

Therefore, salt dissolves much faster and to a greater extent in water than in alcohol.