Electrolytic Dissociation

Electrolytic dissociation is the process where an ionic compound, when dissolved in water, separates into its individual ions. For example, table salt (sodium chloride) dissolves in water and splits into sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl⁻) ions. This occurs because water molecules surround and weaken the ionic bonds, allowing the compound to break apart into charged particles that can move freely. These free ions enable substances to conduct electricity, which is why solutions of ionic compounds are often good electrolytes. This process is fundamental in understanding how solutions conduct electrical current and interact chemically.