An electrolyte is a substance that produces an electrically conductive solution when dissolved in water. The word “electrolyte” is derived from the Greek words for electricity (elektron) and to flow or dissolve (lithos).
Aqueous solutions of electrolytes are called electrolytic solutions, while those of nonelectrolytes are called non-electrolytic solutions. Electrolytes generally consist of ions, which are atoms that have gained or lost electrons and now carry a net electric charge. When an electrolyte dissolves in water, it separates into its component ions. These ions can then conduct electricity through the solution.
Nonelectrolytes, on the other hand, do not separate into ions when they dissolve in water. Instead, they remain intact as molecules throughout the solution. As a result, nonelectrolytic solutions cannot conduct electricity.
The strength of an electrolyte solution is measured by its electrical conductivity, which is a function of the number of ions present in the solution. The higher the concentration of ions, the greater the electrical conductivity. Strong electrolytes have high concentrations of ions and are good conductor