Final answer:
Ionic compounds dissolve in water through dissociation, resulting in the formation of hydrated ions. They are strong electrolytes and can react with other ionic compounds in water.
Step-by-step explanation:
When ionic compounds are dissolved into water, the polar water molecules break apart the solid crystal lattice, resulting in the hydrated ions being evenly distributed through the water. This process is called dissociation and is the reason that all ionic compounds are strong electrolytes. When two different ionic compounds that have been dissolved in water are mixed, a chemical reaction may occur between certain pairs of the hydrated ions.