* Ionic Compounds: Ionic compounds are formed by the electrostatic attraction between positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions).

* Ammonium Nitrate: In NH₄NO₃, you have:

* Ammonium ion (NH₄⁺): This is a polyatomic cation formed by the covalent bonding of nitrogen and hydrogen atoms, with a net positive charge.

* Nitrate ion (NO₃⁻): This is a polyatomic anion formed by the covalent bonding of nitrogen and oxygen atoms, with a net negative charge.

Since ammonium nitrate is composed of ions held together by ionic bonds, it's classified as an ionic compound.