Oxyanions
Oxyanions are negatively charged ions that contain oxygen bonded to another element, typically a nonmetal. They are the conjugate bases of oxoacids and occur in many inorganic compounds and aqueous solutions. In most cases, the central element is surrounded by several oxygen atoms in a geometry that is stabilized by resonance.
Naming follows a common pattern: the suffixes -ate or -ite indicate higher or lower numbers of oxygen
Common oxyanions include nitrate (NO3−), nitrite (NO2−), sulfate (SO4^2−), sulfite (SO3^2−), phosphate (PO4^3−), hydrogen phosphate (HPO4^2−),
Oxyanions arise from oxidation of elements by oxygen and form salts with metal cations. They participate in