n.
Substance that conducts electric current as a result of dissociation of its molecules into positively and negatively charged particles called ion s.
The most familiar electrolytes are acid s, base s, and salt s, which ionize when dissolved in polar solvent s such as water. Many salts, including sodium chloride , behave as electrolytes when melted in the absence of solvent, since they have ionic bond s. The most commonly used electrolytes are dissolved metal salts (for electroplating metals) and acids (in electric batteries ). See also electrolysis .