Question

If you were asked to go to the chemical storage area and retrieve a bottle of “sulfate,” could you do so? Explain. (Assume you have permission from your teacher to go into the storage area.)

Answer 1

No I could not retrieve a bottle of sulfate and I can not have a bottle of all anions. They need cations with them. I would need to find a bottle of sodium sulfate or potassium sulfate.

Answer 2

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO RETRIEVE A BOTTLE OF SULFATE BECAUSE SULFATE DOES NOT EXIST AS A DISTINCT CHEMICAL COMPOUND.

Sulphate is a polyatomic ion. A polyatomic ions refers to group of atoms that carry charges. Sulfate carries a charge of +2. Sulfate is a very reactive ion, thus, it can not be found existing on its own, it is always found in combination with other elements, such elements include H2SO4 and CaSO4.