ites

The suffix -ite is widely used in mineralogy and chemistry to form names of minerals and certain ions. In mineral nomenclature, many minerals end with -ite, and the ending often signals a mineral group or a specific composition. Examples include hematite, magnetite, calcite, fluorite, apatite, goethite, biotite, pyrite, siderite, and dolomite.

In chemical nomenclature for oxyanions, -ite indicates a form with fewer oxygen atoms, or a lower oxidation state, relative to the corresponding -ate form. Examples: nitrite vs nitrate, sulfite vs sulfate, chlorite vs chlorate, phosphate vs phosphite. The system is one of several conventions used to name polyatomic ions, and there are exceptions and historical variations.

Etymology: The suffix derives from classical languages and was adopted in mineral and chemical naming during the development of modern science in the 18th and 19th centuries. It does not imply a single mineral class beyond signaling a naming convention.

Overall, -ite serves as a productive and historical naming element in both mineralogy and inorganic chemistry, contributing to the classification and communication of minerals and ions.