Which of the following compounds would you expect to be an electrolyte?

• A. CCl4 (carbon tetrachloride)
• B. C6H12O6 (glucose)
• C. CH3OH (methanol)
• D. NaCl (sodium chloride)

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand what an electrolyte is: an electrolyte is a substance that dissociates into ions when dissolved in water, allowing the solution to conduct electricity.
2. Examine each compound's nature and solubility in water: CCl4 is a nonpolar molecular compound and does not ionize in water, so it is not an electrolyte.
3. C6H12O6 (glucose) is a molecular compound that dissolves in water but does not dissociate into ions; it remains as neutral molecules, so it is not an electrolyte.
4. CH3OH (methanol) is also a molecular compound that dissolves in water but does not produce ions; it is a nonelectrolyte.
5. NaCl (sodium chloride) is an ionic compound that dissociates completely into Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions in water, making it a strong electrolyte.