ite

Ite is a common English suffix used to form nouns and adjectives from other words. It appears in many scientific terms as well as in general vocabulary, where its meaning can vary by context.

In mineralogy and geology, the suffix -ite is attached to mineral names. Many familiar minerals end in -ite, such as hematite, magnetite, fluorite, and calcite. The use of -ite in mineral names is historical and conventional, not indicative of a single chemical property. The suffix helps categorize minerals within naming traditions established by 18th- and 19th-century mineralogists and chemists.

In chemistry, -ite is widely used for oxyanions and their related acids. The -ite form typically denotes a polyatomic anion with one fewer oxygen atom than the corresponding -ate form. Examples include nitrite (NO2−) versus nitrate (NO3−), sulfite (SO3^2−) versus sulfate (SO4^2−), and chlorite (ClO2−) versus chlorate (ClO3−). This convention, while common, has exceptions and is not a universal rule across all chemical naming.

In linguistics and general English, -ite also serves as a productive suffix for forming demonyms, adherents, or members of a group or belief, such as Luddite or Israelite. It can also appear in adjectives and nouns beyond scientific usage.

Overall, -ite is a versatile suffix with specialized meanings in science and more general uses in everyday language, reflecting historical naming practices and the adaptability of English morphology.