Chloric acid

But certain elements can generate more than two possibilities, and there are prefixes and suffixes to describe any number of oxygen atoms in the respective anion.

Let's say there are four possibilities for the number of oxygen atoms in an oxyacid, such as HClO, HClO2, HClO3, and HClO4.

We know that ClO3 minus is the chlorate ion, and ClO2 minus, with one fewer oxygens, will be the chlorite ion.

If we want to specify that there is one less oxygen than that, we will use the prefix hypo.

Writing the formula of an acid is easy if you know what the anion is.

Because ClO3 has a negative one charge, you can tell that it will bond with just one hydrogen ion to form HClO3.

Now, when we name these acids and anions, we have to kind of watch our mouths, because in the realm of chemistry, there's a whole system of prefixes and suffixes that you have to keep track of to make sure you're addressing everyone by the proper title.

You know, you don't want to offend anyone.

Not a number eight.

A-T-E.

Like we said, chlorate bonds with a hydrogen ion to form HClO3, which is called chloric acid.

That's chloric with an I-C.