Thus trimethylborane and methyllithium react to form the ate compound Li+B(CH3)−4, lithium tetramethylborate(1-).
Lewis acids form ate ions when the central atom reacts with a donor (2 e− X-type ligand), gaining one more bond and becoming a negative-charged anion.
Lewis bases form onium ions when the central atom reacts with an acceptor (0 e− Z-type ligand), gaining one more bond and becoming a positive-charged cation.
Most numerous are oxyanions (oxyacids that have lost one or more protons to deprotonation) and the radicals and functional groups that share their names.
Oxyanions derived from inorganic acids include: Oxyanions derived from organic acids include: A lyate ion is a generic solvent molecule that has become a negative ion by loss of one or more protons.