Question

• elements that can form four polyatomic oxyanions (plus others in addition to the four also exist).
• the oxyanion with the least amount of oxygens is given the prefix hypo - and the ending - ite (e.g. clo - is hypochlorite).
• the oxyanion with the second - least amount of oxygens is simply given the ending - ite (e.g. clo₂ - is chlorite).
• the oxyanion with the second - most amount of oxygens is simply given the ending - ate (e.g. clo₃ - is chlorate).
• finally, the oxyanion with the most amount of oxygens is given the prefix per - and the ending - ate (e.g. clo₄ - is perchlorate).

when naming the acid of an oxyanion, the endings of the anion are modified as follows:

• - ite changes to - ous (when protons) and
• - ate changes to - ic (when protons).

the word acid is added following the new name of the anion to complete the name of the acid.

part b
what is the formula for chlorous acid?
express your answer as a chemical formula.

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Explanation:

Step1: Recall naming rules for acids

Chlorous acid comes from the chlorite ion ($\text{ClO}_2^-$). When forming an acid from an -ite ending ion, we add a hydrogen ion ($\text{H}^+$) and change the -ite ending to -ous.

Step2: Determine the chemical formula

The combination of a hydrogen ion ($\text{H}^+$) with the chlorite ion ($\text{ClO}_2^-$) gives the formula $\text{HClO}_2$.

Answer:

$\text{HClO}_2$