Here's why:

* Ionic Compounds: Sodium bromide is an ionic compound, meaning it's formed by the electrostatic attraction between positively charged sodium ions (Na+) and negatively charged bromide ions (Br-).

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

* Dissociation: When NaBr is dissolved in water, the water molecules surround the ions, weakening the ionic bonds. The water molecules pull the ions apart, causing the compound to dissociate into its constituent ions.

The reaction is:

NaBr(s) → Na+(aq) + Br-(aq)

Key takeaway: While both "ionization" and "dissociation" refer to the separation of ions, we typically use "dissociation" to describe the process for ionic compounds already containing ions, while "ionization" is more commonly used for covalent compounds that form ions when dissolved in water.