What's happening?
When you dissolve silver nitrate (AgNO₃) in water, it undergoes dissociation. This means the ionic compound breaks apart into its individual ions.
The Equation
The equation for this process is:
AgNO₃(s) → Ag⁺(aq) + NO₃⁻(aq)
* AgNO₃(s): Solid silver nitrate
* Ag⁺(aq): Silver ions in aqueous solution (dissolved in water)
* NO₃⁻(aq): Nitrate ions in aqueous solution
Explanation:
* The (s) indicates the silver nitrate is in its solid state.
* The (aq) indicates the ions are dissolved in water, meaning they are surrounded by water molecules.
* This equation shows that one mole of silver nitrate dissolves to form one mole of silver ions and one mole of nitrate ions.
Important Note: This equation represents the *dissociation* process, not a chemical reaction where new compounds are formed.
