Negative charge. Add Ate to the end

[Parsia Vazirnia 2L]

So If a complex has a net negative charge, you would add ate at the end of the metal name. Can someone explain why for K3[CoF6] becomes potassium-hexa-flouro-cobaltate (III).Why are we adding "ate" to cobalt. Where does the negative charge come from?

[HarshiniMuthukumar3N]

Before adding the potassium, which is added to the compound to neutralize it, the compound has a charge of -3 which is why the -ate is added.

[Josh_Zhong_1F]

Hi,

How do you know the compound has a negative has a charge of -3?

[Alex Chen 1B]

Since you have 3 K+ cations, you have to balance the 3+ charge to get a neutral net charge. So the anion, which is the coordination compound in this case, has to have a charge of 3-.