What suffix is a chemical compound?

There isn't a single suffix that specifically denotes a chemical compound. Instead, the naming of chemical compounds depends on the type of compound:

For ionic compounds:

* -ide: This suffix is used for the anion (negatively charged ion) in binary ionic compounds (compounds with two elements).

* Example: Sodium chloride (NaCl) - the anion is chloride (Cl-)

* -ite and -ate: These suffixes are used for polyatomic ions (ions containing multiple atoms) that contain oxygen. "-ite" indicates a lower oxidation state for the non-metal, while "-ate" indicates a higher oxidation state.

* Example: Sodium sulfite (Na2SO3) - sulfite (SO3 2-)

* Example: Sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) - sulfate (SO4 2-)

For covalent compounds:

* -ide: This suffix is also used for the non-metal anion in binary covalent compounds (compounds with two non-metals).

* Example: Carbon dioxide (CO2) - the anion is oxide (O2-)

* Prefixes: Greek prefixes like "mono-", "di-", "tri-", etc. are used to indicate the number of each element in a covalent compound.

* Example: Carbon monoxide (CO) - one carbon, one oxygen

* Example: Carbon dioxide (CO2) - one carbon, two oxygens

For organic compounds:

* -ane, -ene, -yne: These suffixes indicate the presence of single, double, or triple bonds, respectively, in hydrocarbon chains.

* Example: Ethane (C2H6) - single bonds

* Example: Ethene (C2H4) - double bond

* Example: Ethyne (C2H2) - triple bond

Remember: The naming of chemical compounds follows specific rules based on their composition and structure.