Question: what is the difference between ate and ite in polyatomic ions?
Answer: 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-). ... There is also a per- prefix, meaning one more oxygen atom than an -ate molecule has.