Sulphate Structure

Sulphate is a type of chemical compound that has a relation with H2SO4. There are two groups of derivatives: the first group contains the salts which consist of the sulphate ions, SO42-, and also consists of ions having positive charges of magnesium, ammonium, or sodium. The second group contains esters, where the atoms of carbon-containing groups like ethyl (C2H5) or methyl (CH3) replace the hydrogen atoms of sulphuric acid. The chemical formula for sulphate is SO42-; 96.06 g.mol-1 is the molar mass of sulphate and its boiling point and melting point are 623.89 ℃ and 270.47℃ respectively. 

Structure or sulphate or SO42- structure

SO42- Structure

The main composition of sulphate ions is oxygen and sulphur atoms. With the elements like sodium, magnesium, potassium, barium, and calcium, sulphate forms a salt with these elements. The main thing which needs to be understood is the molecular structure of sulphate and the chemical bonding structure of sulphate. The SO42- structure is composed of a central atom known as sulfur and there are four oxygen atoms that are present surrounding the sulphur atom; all oxygen atoms are present at an equal distance from the sulphur atom in the same plane. The oxygen atoms that are surrounding the sulfur atom consist of 2 atoms of the oxygen in the form of S-O bonds and the other 2 atoms of oxygen in the form of S=O in SO42- structure. In the sulphate ion (SO42-) the oxygen atom’s ‘-2’ states are responsible for the (-2) i.e. the anion’s negative charge. The molecular structure of sulphate or the chemical bonding structure of sulphate has tetrahedral geometry that further relies on the theory of VSEPR. The angle at which the four oxygen atoms of sulphate are placed is 109.5 degrees. 

There is a molecular structure of sulphate given by Lewis known as Lewis SO42- structure. In the Lewis structure of sulphate, there are four bonds of oxygen present in it, the two bonds contained in the form of S=O and the other two bonds in the form of S-O. The sulfur atom is present at the center, which is surrounded by the four atoms of oxygen that are present in the same plane at an equal distance from the sulphur atom. For drawing the Lewis structure of sulphate the total number of electrons that are present in the valence shell of oxygen and sulfur atoms needed to be calculated; then the total pairs of electrons must be determined; the selection of the central atom is also very much necessary; then the next step is to place lone pairs on the atoms respectively. At last, the stability of the atoms should be checked and accordingly, the charges on the atoms should be minimized. The number of valences of electrons that are required in sulphate can be calculated using the periodic table in the following way –

Number of oxygen atom = 6 electrons of valence X 4 atoms of oxygen = 24 

24 + 2 electrons

= 26 electrons

And Sulphur atom has 6 valence electrons

• 26 + 6 = 32 valence electrons

Lewis Structure of Sulphate 

Examples of sulphate 

There are various examples of sulphate

• Iron Sulphate

• Magnesium Sulphate

• Lead Sulphate

• Gypsum

• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate

• Hydrogen Sulphate

• Sodium Sulphate

Preparation of sulphate

The Methods for the preparation of sulphate metals are –

The oxidation of metal sulfide and sulfite forms sulphate. Oxidation is the final step for the formation of sulphate; it can be distinguished by the reactions one after another which are dependent on the catalyst. Preparation of sulphate can be treated by metal oxide, metal hydroxide, and metals that contain sulphuric acid. An example is given below:

Zn + H2SO4 → ZnSo4 + H2

CdCO3 + H2SO4 → CdSO4 + H2O + CO2

Conclusion

It is to be concluded that the terrestrial and atmospheric processes of sulphate are easily available in the environment. sulphates are formed by the deprotonation of sulphuric acid from both the OH groups. Oxygen atoms and sulfur atoms are the main compositions of sulphate. sulphates in Chemistry are considered polyatomic anions or inorganic ions.