What are the ionic compounds that dissociate into separate ions in water?

Ionic compounds, such as salts, are made up of positive and negative ions held together by ionic bonds. When these compounds are introduced to water, a polar solvent, the water molecules interact with the charged ions. The positive end of the water molecules is attracted to the anions (negative ions), while the negative end is attracted to the cations (positive ions). This interaction allows the ionic compound to dissociate, meaning that the individual ions separate and disperse throughout the solution.

This unique property is essential for many biological processes, as the presence of dissolved ions is crucial for cellular functions, such as nerve impulse transmission and muscle contraction. Other substances like gases, proteins, and carbohydrates generally do not dissociate into ions in water. Gases may dissolve but do not split into ions, while proteins and carbohydrates are primarily composed of covalent bonds and do not form ionic solutions.