Solutions where water is the solvent are called aqueous solutions . Water is known to be a polar molecule because the unequal distribution of charge caused by the electronegative oxygen. This polarity gives the water the ability to dissolve ions and other polar substance. A useful method for characterizing an aqueous solution is its electrical conductivity. If a solution conducts electricity well, it is considered a strong electrolyte .
Strong electrolytes are substances that are completely ionized in water.
Such examples are strong acids, strong bases, and soluble salts. A weak electrolyte is a substance that only slightly ionizes when added to water. These substances include weak acids, weak bases, and slight soluble salts. Nonelectrolytes are substances that dissolve in water, but that don't break up into ions. This occurs when two solutions are mixed resulting, and a solid or precipitate forms.