Ions by themselves need to be balanced generally in order to retain their structure etc.. In an aqueous state the bonds in water allows the ions to flow freely, as such electricity can be conducted. In the solid state the ions are usually in a regular structure or pattern eg NaCl has a fixed ratio of 1na ion and1cl ion, which makes it a poor electrical conductor in the solid state. So ions are both in solid and aqueous state, but they have different abilities in those states
