Final answer:
Silver nitrate (AgNO3) is classified as a compound because it is made up of different elements combined chemically, forming ionic bonds. When it reacts with other substances, such as sodium chloride, new compounds are formed through the rearrangement of atoms and the formation of new chemical bonds.
Step-by-step explanation:
Silver nitrate (AgNO3) is classified as a compound because it is made up of different elements combined chemically. In other words, it is a substance that is composed of atoms of multiple elements bonded together. In the case of silver nitrate, it consists of one silver (Ag) atom, one nitrogen (N) atom, and three oxygen (O) atoms.
Compounds are formed through chemical reactions where atoms gain, lose, or share electrons in order to achieve stability. In the case of silver nitrate, the silver atom donates an electron to the nitrogen and oxygen atoms, forming ionic bonds.
When silver nitrate reacts with other substances, such as sodium chloride (NaCl), a new compound is formed due to the rearrangement of atoms and the formation of new chemical bonds. For example:
AgNO3 + NaCl → AgCl + NaNO3