Question

Many polyatomic ions are oxoanions, containing a nonmetal bonded to one or more oxygen atoms. If ClO₃⁻ has the name chlorate, match each of the other oxoanions in the same family to its correct name.

a ClO₄⁻:
b ClO₂⁻:
c ClO⁻:

a perchlorate
b chlorite
c ypochlorite

Answer 1

The chlorine oxoanions are correctly named as follows: a ClO₄⁻ is perchlorate, b ClO₂⁻ is chlorite, and c ClO⁻ is hypochlorite, based on the number of oxygen atoms and established nomenclature rules for polyatomic ions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question focuses on the naming of chlorine oxoanions with varying numbers of oxygen atoms. Each oxoanion has a distinct name based on the number of oxygen atoms it contains. According to their oxygen content, the correct matches for the chlorine oxoanions are:

• a ClO₄⁻: perchlorate
• b ClO₂⁻: chlorite
• c ClO⁻: hypochlorite

The naming conventions for polyatomic ions, particularly halogen oxoanions, follow specific patterns; the ion with one more oxygen atom than the -ate ion uses the prefix 'per-', and the ion with one less is named with the -ite suffix. If there are two fewer oxygen atoms than the -ate ion, you use the prefix 'hypo-' followed by the root of the halogen and the suffix -ite.