[horsebox]

I know that when you dissolve a salt in water it dissociates into its constituent anions and cations but what I don't get is how new salts are formed. When nothing precipitates out does that mean you just have a solution of ions and no new ionic compounds? If a non soluble substance like AgCl precipitates out the silver chloride was obviously formed in the solution before hand because its constituent ions alone are soluble. Whats going on there?

[Borek]

When nothing precipitates out does that mean you just have a solution of ions and no new ionic compounds?

Yes.

If a non soluble substance like AgCl precipitates out the silver chloride was obviously formed in the solution before hand because its constituent ions alone are soluble. Whats going on there?

As long as ions present don't create insoluble combinations, they float freely, once you add something that makes insoluble combination - it precipitates.