Subject: When ionic compounds dissolve, why do they retain their properties?

I know (or at least I think I know) that when an ionic compound such as salt 
dissolves, the bonds between the ions are broken.  In salt the sodium is 
separated from the chlorine because of the polarity of the water molecules.  I 
also know that compounds have very different properties from the individual 
elements that make them.  So, if the bonds of a compound are broken when the 
compound dissolves, how is it that the individual, unattached atoms maintain 
the properties of the original compound?  How is it that when salt dissolves, 
the water still tastes salty?  If the salt compounds are broken, why don’t 
bubbles of chlorine gas rise? 

Re: When ionic compounds dissolve, why do they retain their properties?