How do ionic bonds dissolve in water?

The first step is that the ionic compound is broken down due to the polarity of the surrounding water molecules with oxygen being electronegative and hydrogen being electropositive. Hence, the Ionic bond has been broken.

The second step is that both the positive and negative ions are hydrated by the surrounding water molecules. The electronegative oxygen will be attracted to the positive ion e.g Na+ and the electropostive hydrogen will be attracted to the negative ion e.g Cl-.

This is how Ionic compounds dissociate and dissolve in polar solvents such as water.

Ionization, also known as dissociation, is the process by which ions in an ionic compound are surrounded and separated by water molecules; the positively and negatively charged ions are drawn to and surrounded by the water molecules, which dissolves the ionic bonds and creates a solution.