word-forming element meaning "under, beneath; less, less than" (in chemistry, indicating a lesser oxidation), from Greekhypo(prep. and adverb) "under, beneath; up from under; toward and under (i.e. into)," from PIE root*upo"under." ...
while the hypo- prefix indicates that there is one fewer oxygen atom attached, meaning that there is only one oxygen atom attached in hypoiodite. Theionindicates that there is a negative charge on the compound. The hypoiodite formula isIO−, containing a single iodine atom and a single ...