When salts dissolve in water, the polar water molecules interact with the positive and negative ions of the salt, attracting them and breaking apart the crystal structure. Electrolytes separate into ions that move freely in solution while maintaining net neutral charge. Dissociation equations represent electrolytes dissolving as solute separating into aqueous ions. These equations must be balanced and show correct ionic charges and physical states. Dissociation refers to ionic compounds breaking apart while ionization describes molecules breaking into separate particles.

1. Polar water molecules interacting with positive and negative ions of a salt .

7. ► Practice, p.198 # 2