Which of the following is a characteristic of non-electrolytes?

A characteristic of non-electrolytes is that they do not ionize in solution. Non-electrolytes are substances that dissolve in water but do not dissociate into ions, which means they do not produce any charged particles in a solution. This lack of ionization is what distinguishes them from electrolytes, which do break apart into ions when dissolved.

The inability to conduct electricity in solution further emphasizes this quality, as conductivity in an aqueous solution requires the presence of charged particles. Since non-electrolytes do not produce ions, they are non-conductive in nature. While non-electrolytes can dissolve in organic solvents, this point is not definitive for their classification and does not apply universally, as many electrolytes are soluble in organic solvents as well. Thus, the defining characteristic for non-electrolytes remains their failure to ionize in solution.