Here's why:

* Ionic Compound: Ammonium carbonate is an ionic compound formed from the ammonium ion (NH₄⁺) and the carbonate ion (CO₃²⁻).

* Polarity: Water is a polar solvent, meaning it has a positive and negative end due to the uneven sharing of electrons.

* Attraction: The positive end of water molecules is attracted to the negative carbonate ions, and the negative end of water molecules is attracted to the positive ammonium ions. This attraction helps break apart the ammonium carbonate crystal lattice and dissolve it in water.

However, ammonium carbonate is not very stable in water. It readily decomposes into ammonia (NH₃), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and water:

(NH₄)₂CO₃(aq) → 2NH₃(g) + CO₂(g) + H₂O(l)

This decomposition reaction makes ammonium carbonate solutions smell strongly of ammonia.