Ions, when an ionic compound is dissolved in water, can best be described as :

A

hydrated molecules only

B

dehydrated ions and molecules

C

both hydrated molecules and hydratedions

D

neither hydrated ions nor hydrated molecules

E

hydrated ions only

Ionic compounds dissolve in water because the water molecules hydrate the ions. To dissolve an ionic compound, the water molecules must be able to stabilize the ions that result from breaking the ionic bond. They do this by hydrating the ions.
Water is a polar molecule. It has a permanent dipole. TheOatom has a partial negative charge. TheHatoms have a partial positive charge. When an ionic substance is placed in water, the water molecules attract the positive and negative ions from the crystal. The positive ions have several water molecules around them, all with theirOatoms close to the positive ion. The negative ions have several water molecules around them, all with theirHatoms close to the negative ion.
The "shell" of water molecules reduces the attractions between the ions. The ions are hydrated.