Elements may form more than one oxoanion.
The ion with the maximum number of oxygens has an -
ate ending.
The examples below show that for -
ate ions that have no
per- prefix on their name, the oxoanion with the -
ite ending has
- one fewer oxygen than the corresponding mononuclear ion ending in -ate.
- the same charge as the corresponding mononuclear oxoanion ending in -ate.
| nitrate NO3– | sulfate SO42– |
| nitrite NO2– | sulfite SO32– |