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How do chlorite and chlorate ions differ in the number of oxygen atoms?

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The structure of phosphorous acid, H3PO3. — oxyacid The structure of phosphorous acid, H₃PO₃.

Chlorite and chlorate ions differ in their number of oxygen atoms. The chlorite ion is represented by the formula ${ClO}_{2}^{-}$ , containing two oxygen atoms. In contrast, the chlorate ion is represented by the formula ${ClO}_{3}^{-}$ , containing three oxygen atoms.12