Final answer:
Soluble ionic compounds dissolve in water to form strong electrolytes, dispersing their ions throughout the solution. Insoluble ionic compounds do not dissolve and instead remain largely intact in the water.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you place a soluble ionic compound in a beaker of water, you would observe that the compound dissolves, forming a clear solution. This dissolution occurs as the water molecules surround and solvate the ions, reducing their electrostatic attraction to one another, leading to these ions dispersing throughout the solution. This process is known as dissociation, and in the case of soluble ionic compounds, they typically dissociate nearly completely in water to form a strong electrolyte.
On the other hand, if you placed an insoluble ionic compound in a separate beaker of water, you would observe that the compound remains largely intact, either settling at the bottom of the beaker or floating in the water depending on its density. The insoluble ionic compound's ions are not freely dispersed in the water due to its very small solubility product, which prevents the ions from separating sufficiently to dissolve.