Which statement best describes an electrolyte?

• A. A substance that dissolves in water but does not conduct electricity.
• B. A substance that only conducts electricity in its solid state.
• C. A substance that cannot dissolve in water under any conditions.
• D. A substance that dissolves in water to produce a solution that conducts electricity.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that an electrolyte is a substance that, when dissolved in water, produces ions that can move freely in solution.
2. Recognize that the presence of these free ions allows the solution to conduct electricity, which is a key characteristic of electrolytes.
3. Note that substances that dissolve in water but do not produce ions (such as sugar) do not conduct electricity and are not electrolytes.
4. Recall that solid electrolytes generally do not conduct electricity well because their ions are fixed in place and cannot move freely.
5. Conclude that the best description of an electrolyte is a substance that dissolves in water to produce a solution that conducts electricity due to the formation of ions.