how are 'ates' and 'ases' different? i know enzymes end in ases but waswondering if'ates mean they are ionized

Answer 1

I always associate the ending "-ate" with an acid, as in ascorbate/ ascorbic acid, urate/uric acid, citrate/citric acid.

So the ate ending relates to the ionised portion of the acid. eg Sodium ascorbate, potassium citrate.

Answer 2

-ases are always enzymes, -ates are usually the anion of a salt, for example, sulphate, phosphate or malate. You can have -ates of differing charge, though usually, if not always negative charges.
The difference is fairly large, and -ases may act on -ates as their substrates. This is probably the relationship you're looking for.