What does "_______ite" in acid naming signify?

In the context of acid naming, the suffix "_______ite" is used in nomenclature to designate the presence of fewer oxygen atoms in a species when compared to its related acid that contains more oxygen atoms, which will have the suffix "_______ate." Specifically, when referring to certain oxyacids containing polyatomic ions, the "_______ite" indicates that the acid corresponds to the “_______ous acid” form.

For example, if we consider the polyatomic ion nitrite (NO₂⁻), the corresponding acid would be nitrous acid (HNO₂). On the other hand, the ion nitrate (NO₃⁻) relates to nitric acid (HNO₃), which contains one more oxygen atom than nitrous acid. Thus, when recognizing the naming conventions, "_______ite" indeed helps to identify the relationship to "_______ous acid."

Other options do not accurately capture the naming conventions or the systematic approach used in chemical nomenclature.