Reef Chemistry Question of the Day #206 The "ate" suffix

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Reef Chemistry Question of the Day #206

Many of the chemicals we discuss in conjunction with reef tanks have a name ending with the suffix "ate", such as nitrate and phosphate.

Which of the following is (are) not true of all "ate" ending chemicals? May be more than one correct answer.

1. They are all ions.
2. They are all negatively charged.
3. They all contain at least one oxygen atom
4. They all contain at least two oxygen atoms
5. They all contain at least three oxygen atoms
6. They never contain metals as part of the structure

Good luck!



































.

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

#2, is the only one that is not true. What do I win?

 

[Cnidoblast]

Isn't the -ate suffix for a highly oxidized negative ion? like permanganate for example?

4 is my geuss

 

[siggy]

2,3,6

 

[spiraling]

-ite and -ate must contain O, ite has one less than ate. So 3 and 4 must be true. But I don't think 5 is true.
I'm fairly sure 1 is true. I agree 2 isn't true. And I thought metals used the -ide suffix

So based on my very shaky chemistry knowledge I'm going with 2 and 5 as not true

 

[AcanthurusRex]

5,6

 

[Grey Guy]

5,6

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

#2, is the only one that is not true. What do I win?

lol

Let's wait and see if you are correct before claiming a prize.

 

[Ted_C]

4,5,6 are not true. I dont count though becuase I used to be a high school chemistry teacher.

 

[spiraling]

I'm throwing in a second guess at 5 only

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

4,5,6 are not true. I dont count though becuase I used to be a high school chemistry teacher.

Of course you count. lol

Glad to have more chemists around.

 

[Ted_C]

the tricks to this question are items like Cyanate and Cuprate. Oh - after saying that - then 3 can be added to the list. I'm unsure about #1 - because there might be some organic "ate" that would be considered non-ionic

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

the tricks to this question are items like Cyanate and Cuprate. Oh - after saying that - then 3 can be added to the list. I'm unsure about #1 - because there might be some organic "ate" that would be considered non-ionic

Cyanate fits my intended definition OK, although a little oddly. Some cuprates do too but some aren't exactly fitting the true definition of what an "ate" is. Some, I think, are misapplications of the name, maybe even arising before people knew the actual structure.

 

[Cnidoblast]

3 is my final awnser as you said the NCO- ion fits your criteria

 

[jason2459]

7 ate 9

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

3 is my final awnser as you said the NCO- ion fits your criteria

"Which of the following is (are) not true of all "ate" ending chemicals? May be more than one correct answer. "
3. They all contain at least one oxygen atom

Are you saying NCO- does not contain oxygen?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

7 ate 9

lol

We have a math professor friend who loves that. lol

 

[Cnidoblast]

It says not true - woops!

Not all -ate ions contain two or three O atoms

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What's the significance of your avatar?

 

[Cnidoblast]

My current one is of a insecticidal molecule known as flonicamid.. it can be thought of as a non peptide mimic of certain potassium channel blocking anemone toxins (the insecticide has similar binding profile)