Which of the following could be an electrolyte?

• A. An acid
• B. A base
• C. A salt
• D. Any of the above

Answer: (D)

Electrolytes are substances that produce ions when they dissolve in water (or are molten), and those ions carry electric current. Acids, bases, and salts all have this potential to become ions in solution, so they can be electrolytes. Strong acids dissociate completely into hydrons (H3O+) and the corresponding anions, making them excellent conductors. Weak acids also form ions, though only partially, so they still behave as electrolytes but less strongly. Bases behave similarly: strong bases fully release OH− and metal cations, while weak bases partially ionize. Salts dissociate into positive and negative ions when dissolved, providing the charge carriers necessary for conduction. Because each of these groups can yield ions in solution or in the molten state, any of them could be an electrolyte.