Question

Electrolytes are?

1) nonpolar molecules
2) substances that usually don't dissolve in water
3) found in solutions that do not conduct electricity
4) cations and anions that dissociate in water

Answer 1

Electrolytes are cations and anions that dissociate in water, allowing the solution to conduct electricity. They can be strong or weak electrolytes, while nonelectrolytes do not conduct electricity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Electrolytes are substances that dissolve in water to yield ions, which are cations and anions that dissociate in water. This dissociation allows the solution to conduct an electric current, making these compounds essential for the conductivity of the solution. The polar nature of water facilitates the dissolution of ionic compounds, leading to hydration, where water molecules surround the ions. There are both strong electrolytes, like soluble ionic compounds and strong acids, which ionize completely, and weak electrolytes, which ionize to a much lesser extent. Nonelectrolytes, on the other hand, do not produce ions when dissolved and cannot conduct electricity.