Question

What does the -ite or -ate ending in a polyatomic ion mean?
-Oxygen is in the formula.
-Sulfur is in the formula.
-Nitrogen is in the formula.
-Bromine is in the formula.

Answer 1

Those are endings associated with oxyanions. Here are some examples:\[{\rm BrO}_4^-\] = perbromate\[{\rm BrO}_3^-\] = bromate\[{\rm BrO}_2^-\] = bromite\[{\rm BrO}^-\] = hypobromite\[{\rm NO}_3^-\] = nitrate\[{\rm NO}_2^-\] = nitrite\[{\rm PO}_4^{3-}\] = phosphate\[{\rm PO}_3^{3-}\] = phosphite

Answer 2

Thanks!