tetraoxo

tetraoxo is a chemical prefix used in nomenclature to indicate the presence of four oxygen atoms in a molecule or ion. It is often encountered in the naming of inorganic compounds, particularly oxoanions and oxides. For example, the ion with the formula [MnO4]− is named permanganate, but its systematic name can be derived using the tetraoxo prefix, indicating four oxygen atoms bonded to a manganese atom. Similarly, if a molecule contained four separate oxygen atoms as discrete units, the tetraoxo prefix might be employed in its IUPAC name.

The tetraoxo prefix is part of a larger system of prefixes used to denote the number of specific atoms or groups in a chemical compound. These prefixes, such as mono-, di-, tri-, and so on, are essential for unambiguously communicating the molecular structure and composition. The use of tetraoxo is governed by the rules established by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). While commonly seen in inorganic chemistry, the principle of using prefixes for numerical indication extends to organic chemistry as well, though the specific prefixes and their applications may differ. The precise bonding arrangement of the oxygen atoms is usually described by other parts of the chemical name or by structural formulas.