Which statement best distinguishes electrolytes from non-electrolytes in solution?

• A. Electrolytes ionize in water and conduct electricity; non-electrolytes do not
• B. Electrolytes are always strong acids
• C. Non-electrolytes ionize to form gases
• D. Electrolytes never dissolve in water

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that electrical conductivity in solution comes from charged particles. Electrolytes dissociate into ions when dissolved, so the solution contains mobile ions that carry charge and conduct electricity. Non-electrolytes don’t form ions in water; they stay as neutral molecules, so there are no charge carriers and the solution doesn’t conduct electricity. It’s also worth noting that electrolytes can conduct differently depending on how completely they ionize—strong electrolytes ionize almost completely, while weak electrolytes ionize only partially, but both still produce some conduction. The other statements are not correct because electrolytes aren’t limited to strong acids (they include salts and bases as well), non-electrolytes do not ionize to form gases, and electrolytes can dissolve in water.