An ate or ite at the end of a compound name usually indicates that the compound
a. fewer electrons than protons
b. only two elements
c. neutral molecules
d. a polyatomic anion

The correct answer is option d. a polyatomic anion.

Explanation:

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The ending "ate" or "ite" indicates that there is a negative polyatomic ion (polyatomic anion). This means that the termination of the name will indicate the valence number of the element, if the number used is the highest or the lowest.

An example is:

CO-3: is the carbonate ion

SO-4: is the sulfate ion

We conclude that the correct answer is option d. a polyatomic anion.

i'm not sure

explanation:

i'll try whatever you got

the atomic number will stay the same no matter how many electrons it has, so it doesn’t decrease nor increase. it’ll only change with a different number of protons