Which of the following compounds is classified as an electrolyte?

• A. NaCl (sodium chloride)
• B. C_6H_{12}O_6 (glucose)
• C. CCl_4 (carbon tetrachloride)
• D. CH_3OH (methanol)

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that an electrolyte is a substance that dissociates into ions when dissolved in water, allowing the solution to conduct electricity.
2. Identify the nature of each compound: NaCl is an ionic compound, while C_6H_{12}O_6 (glucose), CCl_4 (carbon tetrachloride), and CH_3OH (methanol) are molecular compounds.
3. Recall that ionic compounds like NaCl dissociate into Na^+ and Cl^- ions in aqueous solution, making them electrolytes.
4. Recognize that molecular compounds such as glucose, carbon tetrachloride, and methanol do not dissociate into ions in water; they remain as neutral molecules and thus are nonelectrolytes or weak electrolytes.
5. Conclude that among the given options, NaCl is classified as an electrolyte because it produces ions in solution and conducts electricity.