Yes, ionic compounds such as sodium chloride NaCl dissolve easily in water. This is because water is a polar molecule, meaning it has a positive end and a negative end. The positive end of the water molecule is attracted to the negative ions in the salt, and the negative end of the water molecule is attracted to the positive ions in the salt. This attraction causes the salt to break apart into its individual ions, which can then be surrounded by water molecules. This process is called ionization. Once the salt is ionized, it is said to be in solution.