Does SO₃^2- represent sulfate or sulfite?

The correct answer is sulfite. SO₃²⁻ represents sulfite because it has a 2⁻ charge, indicating that it has gained two electrons. Sulfite is a polyatomic ion composed of one sulfur atom and three oxygen atoms. It is commonly used as a preservative in food and beverages. Sulfate, on the other hand, is represented by SO₄²⁻ and has a 2⁻ charge. It is also a polyatomic ion but consists of four oxygen atoms bonded to a sulfur atom.