When naming compounds how do you decide the suffix? and when is a suffix used?

Question

kc_kennylau · Answer

Cation: change nothing
Simple anion: -ide (e.g. sodium chloride $NaCl$
Polyatomic anion with more O: -ate (e.g. hydrogen chlorate $HClO_3$)
Polyatomic anion with less O: -ite (e.g. sodium chlorite $NaClO_2$)
Polyatomic anion with even more O: per- -ate (e.g. potassium perchlorate $KClO4$)
Polyatomic anion with even less O: hypo- -ite (e.g. lithium hypochlorite $LiClO$)
Acids with no O: hydro- acid (e.g hydrochloric acid $HCl$)
Acids with more O: -ic acid (e.g. chloric acid $HClO_3$)
Acids with less O: -ous acid (e.g. chlorous acid $HClO_2$)
Acids with even more O: per- -ic acid (e.g. perchloric acid $HClO_4$)
Acids with even less O: hypo- -ous acid (e.g. hypochlorous acid $HClO$)

Then you would ask why do $NO_3$ and $SO_4$ both end with -ate, and I would answer idk and I would tell you to just memorize.