Final Answer
The hypochlorite has 3 fewer oxygen atoms compared to chlorate. Thus the correct ans is c.
Step-by-step explanation
The molecular structures of hypochlorite (ClO-) and chlorate (ClO3-) differ in their oxygen composition. Hypochlorite consists of one chlorine atom bonded to one oxygen atom, resulting in the formula ClO-. On the other hand, chlorate comprises one chlorine atom bonded to three oxygen atoms, forming the formula ClO3-.
Comparing the number of oxygen atoms in hypochlorite (1 oxygen atom) to chlorate (3 oxygen atoms), we observe a difference of 2 oxygen atoms. To ascertain the fewer number of oxygen atoms in hypochlorite compared to chlorate, consider that the prefix "hypo-" in hypochlorite denotes a lower number of oxygen atoms relative to the "-ate" suffix in chlorate. This naming convention, commonly seen in oxyanions, signifies a pattern in which "hypo-" suggests fewer oxygen atoms than the form ending in "-ate."
Therefore, based on the structural formulas and the naming conventions for oxyanions, hypochlorite has three fewer oxygen atoms than chlorate. This deduction aligns with the understanding of chemical nomenclature and the composition of these specific ions, confirming that the hypochlorite ion contains one oxygen atom while the chlorate ion contains three oxygen atoms.
Thus the correct ans is c.