Question

When do we use ite ate as suffix while naming compounds?

Answer 1

The -ate suffix is used on the most common oxyanion (like sulfate SO42- or nitrate NO3-). The -ite suffix is used on the oxyanion with one oxygen atom fewer (like sulfite SO32- or nitrite NO2-). Sometimes there can be a hypo- prefix, meaning one oxygen atom fewer than for -ite.