Final answer:
Dissolving a substance in water where it breaks into smaller ions is known as dissociation, during which ionic compounds dissolve forming solvated ions in a process that involves hydration and results in the possibility of electrical conductivity.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a substance dissolves in water by breaking up into smaller pieces, this process is known as dissociation. An example of this is when one puts table salt (NaCl) into water, this ionic compound dissociates into sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions that are surrounded and stabilized by the water molecules due to the polar nature of water. The dissolution of salts in water involves the breakdown of the solid ionic crystal structure, following which the ions become solvated (surrounded and stabilized by water molecules), in the process known as hydration.
The separation of cations from anions in this way allows the once solid compound to disperse uniformly throughout the solution. Ionic compounds like NaCl are strong electrolytes, meaning they dissociate nearly completely in solution, allowing the solution to conduct electrical current effectively. The process is facilitated by ion-dipole interactions, which dominate over the ionic bonds in the solid state when in the presence of a polar solvent like water.