Chemistry / Unit 2 Chem 0306 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
The -ate/-ite/per-/hypo- Oxyanion Naming Pattern
The idea
Naming a series of related oxyanions means using -ate for the most common member, -ite for one fewer oxygen, and the prefixes per- and hypo- for one more or two fewer still.
In practice
Chlorine forms four oxyanions in this series: perchlorate, ClO4−, carries the most oxygen; chlorate, ClO3−, is the common reference point; chlorite, ClO2−, carries one fewer oxygen than chlorate; and hypochlorite, ClO−, carries the fewest. The same -ate/-ite pattern applies to sulfate and sulfite, or nitrate and nitrite, though the exact oxygen count each suffix represents is not consistent from one element's series to the next.
Where people slip
Assuming "-ate always means four oxygens" because chlorate's series works that way fails immediately on sulfate, SO4 2−, or nitrate, NO3−, whose series carry different oxygen counts under the same suffix.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Unlocks
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for Chemistry