What does it mean to say that the ions of an electrolyte behave independently of one another when the electrolyte is dissolved in water?

is it something about the compound splitting?

It means that the electrolyte dissociates into its separate ions and the chemistry of the solution is the chemistry of the ions. For example, NaCl, when placed in water, dissociates into Na^+ and Cl^-. There is no NaCl anymore.

When an electrolyte is dissolved in water, it dissociates into its constituent ions. These ions are charged particles that are either positively charged (cations) or negatively charged (anions). The concept of ions behaving independently of one another refers to the fact that these ions move freely and do not exert any influence or interact with one another due to their charges.

In other words, the ions in an electrolyte solution act as separate entities. Each ion moves independently in the solution, driven by factors such as electric fields and concentration gradients. They do not repel or attract each other, as their interactions are primarily determined by their interaction with the water molecules.

This behavior occurs because water molecules surround and solvate the individual ions, forming a solvation shell. These water molecules shield the charges on the ions, preventing direct interactions between the ions themselves. It is important to note that the extent to which ions behave independently varies depending on the electrolyte concentration and the nature of the ions involved.

So, when you dissolve an electrolyte in water, the compound splits into its constituent ions, and those ions can move independently of each other in the solution.