Electrolytes are substances that produce ions in solution.

Substances can be categorized as strong electrolytes, weak electrolytes or nonelectrolytes.

Strong Electrolytes

Strong electrolytes are substances that only exist as ions in solution. Ionic compounds are typically strong electrolytes. Strong acids, strong bases and salts are strong electrolytes. When solid NaCl is placed in water, it completely dissociates to form Na⁺ and Cl^- ions.

Weak Electrolytes
A weak electrolyte only partially dissociates in solution and produces relatively few ions. Polar covalent compounds are typically weak electrolytes. Weak acids and weak bases are weak electrolytes.

 
 

	H2O
CH3COOH(l)		CH3COO- (aq)	+	H+(aq)

 

Nonelectrolytes
A nonelectrolyte does not dissociate at all in solution and therefore does not produce any ions. Nonelectrolytes are typically polar covalent substances that do dissolve in water as molecules instead of ions. Sugar (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁) is a good example of a nonelectrolyte.