Polyatomic ions, -ate and -ite suffixes

[Math Is Hard]

With the Polyatomic ions, how do you tell an "ate" from an "ite" when choosing the suffix? I didn't quite catch what the teacher was saying but there was something about the charge compared with the subscript, I think? :confused:

[Math Is Hard]

er.. maybe this actually belongs in science education area. I just saw the restructuring. Feel free to move this if needed. :smile:

[Concorde]

You generally have to memorize the polyatomic ions, since an -ate won't have a set number and neither will an -ite, it will depend on what the poly. ion is.

Such as sulfite (SO3) and sulfate (S04) vs. Nitrite (NO2) and Nitrate (NO3)

However, you only need to memroize the -ite one, since you know the -ate one is always just going to have one more.

[Math Is Hard]

OK, thanks very much! :smile:

[renerob]

Ite refers to the lower state of oxidation and ate to the higher state. Example: copper sulfite and copper sulfate.