Which statement best defines an electrolyte?

Which statement best defines an electrolyte?

• A. A substance that conducts electricity when dissolved in water
• B. A substance that does not dissolve
• C. A substance that changes color
• D. A substance that is purely covalent

Answer: (A)

Electric conduction in a solution comes from mobile ions. An electrolyte is a substance that, when dissolved in water (or melted), forms these ions so they can move and carry charge under an electric field. That’s why dissolving a salt like table salt in water yields Na+ and Cl− ions that move and allow the solution to conduct electricity. Substances that don’t dissolve won’t produce ions, so they don’t conduct. Some dissolved substances form only a few ions (weak electrolytes) and conduct electricity less well, while non-electrolytes like sugar don’t produce ions and don’t conduct. The essential idea is the presence of free-moving ions in the solution to transfer charge.

Electric conduction in a solution comes from mobile ions. An electrolyte is a substance that, when dissolved in water (or melted), forms these ions so they can move and carry charge under an electric field. That’s why dissolving a salt like table salt in water yields Na+ and Cl− ions that move and allow the solution to conduct electricity. Substances that don’t dissolve won’t produce ions, so they don’t conduct. Some dissolved substances form only a few ions (weak electrolytes) and conduct electricity less well, while non-electrolytes like sugar don’t produce ions and don’t conduct. The essential idea is the presence of free-moving ions in the solution to transfer charge.