What are the differences between -ate, -ide, -ite, and the other suffixes? What are some ways of remembering? Thank you for clarifying this.
Answered above.
The suffixes -ate, -ide, and -ite are commonly encountered in chemistry to describe various compounds. Here's an explanation of their differences:
1. -ate: This suffix is usually used to indicate the presence of oxygen in a compound. For example, sulfate (SO4^2-) and carbonate (CO3^2-) are examples of compounds with the -ate suffix. Another way to remember this suffix is that it sounds similar to "oxygenate," which helps to associate it with oxygen-containing compounds.
2. -ide: This suffix is used to indicate a binary compound, which consists of only two elements. For instance, sodium chloride (NaCl), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and potassium bromide (KBr) are all binary compounds. A way to remember this suffix is to think of it as "inside" or "in between" the two elements.
3. -ite: This suffix is utilized to denote an oxyanion, which is a compound with oxygen and another element. Chlorite (ClO2^-) and nitrite (NO2^-) are examples of -ite compounds. To recall this suffix, associate it with the word "oxygenite."
In general, one way to remember the differences between these suffixes is to visualize how each suffix relates to the composition of the compound. For -ate, think of oxygen; for -ide, think of the two elements; and for -ite, think of oxygen mixed with another element. Additionally, practicing with examples and reviewing their formulas can reinforce your understanding of these suffixes.