Final answer:
When ionic compounds dissolve in water, their ions separate and disperse uniformly throughout the solution, a process known as dissociation. This results in the formation of strong electrolytes. An example of this is the dissolution of sodium chloride in water.
Step-by-step explanation:
When ionic compounds dissolve in water, the ions in the solid separate and disperse uniformly throughout the solution because water molecules surround and solvate the ions, reducing the strong electrostatic forces between them. This process represents a physical change known as dissociation. Under most conditions, ionic compounds will dissociate nearly completely when dissolved, and so they are classified as strong electrolytes.
For example, when sodium chloride (NaCl) dissolves in water, the sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-) separate from each other and solvate with water molecules. The dissociation equation would be:
NaCl(s) -> Na+(aq) + Cl-(aq)