Here's why:

* Nitrate (NO₃⁻) is a negatively charged ion composed of one nitrogen atom and three oxygen atoms.

* Ions are charged atoms or groups of atoms. They don't exist independently but form compounds with other ions or molecules.

You might encounter nitrate compounds in different states of matter, for example:

* Sodium nitrate (NaNO₃) is a white solid.

* Potassium nitrate (KNO₃) is also a solid.

* Nitric acid (HNO₃) is a liquid.

So, the state of matter of "nitrate" depends on the specific compound it's part of.