Ion association

Have you ever mixed salt in water? The salt dissolves and you can't see it anymore. But where did it go? The salt actually broke apart into tiny pieces called ions that are too small to see. These ions, like sodium and chlorine, mix with the molecules in the water.

Now, let's say you add more salt to the water. The ions from the salt start sticking together, forming little clusters. This is called ion association. These clusters can get bigger and bigger as more ions stick together.

Think of it like building with blocks. At first, you just have single blocks (ions) floating around in the water. But when you start putting two or more blocks together, you create larger structures (ion clusters).

Ion association can happen in other liquids too, not just water. And it can be important in things like chemical reactions and the behavior of substances in solution. But at its core, it's just the process of ions sticking together to make bigger structures.