A substance that dissolves in water to produce a solution that conducts electricity is called an

• A. Electrolyte
• B. Suspension
• C. Colloid
• D. Nonelectrolyte

Answer: (A)

Electric conductivity in water comes from ions. Substances that form free ions when dissolved in water enable current to flow, so they are called electrolytes. When an electrolyte dissolves, it dissociates into cations and anions that move and carry charge through the solution. For example, table salt splits into Na+ and Cl− in water and conducts electricity. In contrast, a nonelectrolyte dissolves as neutral molecules and does not produce mobile ions, so the solution does not conduct electricity well. Suspensions and colloids are not true solutions; they’re mixtures with particles dispersed rather than dissolved, so their ability to conduct electricity isn’t defined by electrolyte behavior in the same way. Therefore, the term for a substance that dissolves in water to produce a solution that conducts electricity is electrolyte.