a colorless liquid with the chemical formula AgNO3. It is made up of an ionic bond between the silver cation (Ag+) and the nitrate anion (NO3–), which makes it very soluble in water and dissociates into its constituent ions. Silver nitrate is a precursor to many silver compounds, including those used in photography. It is also used as an antiinfective agent, and can be used topically to cauterize infected tissues around a skin wound, or to help create a scab to stop bleeding.