What do the suffixes -ate, -ous, and -ic mean in compound names?

[Xishan]

What does this -ate suffix with compounds mean? Can anybody tell about other suffixes like -ous -ic etc as well.

Thanks...

 

[DrMark]

Google is your friend, learn to use it ;)

http://wine1.sb.fsu.edu/chm1045/notes/Atoms/Naming/Atoms06.htm

 

[quetzalcoatl9]

What does this -ate suffix with compounds mean? Can anybody tell about other suffixes like -ous -ic etc as well.

Thanks...

well, it depends, but in organic & biochemistry it means that you have a stable ion of a carboxylic acid at a particular pH.

for example, pyruvic acid:

$$CH_3COCOOH$$

is the carboxylic acid. but at pH > 3, most of it will be found in the deprotonated form:

$$CH_3COCOO^-$$

this is called "pyruvate". the same convention holds for other carboxylic acids.

if you are talking about general or inorganic chemistry, then "-ate" is used to designate oxidation states of polyatomic ions, as Dr. Mark's link indicates.

 

[Xishan]

Thanks, Dr. Marks! that's all I was looking for