Final answer:
The formula for the sulfate ion is SO4^2-, which is a tetrahedral polyatomic anion with a -2 charge. Sulfate forms salts with various cations, and correctly balancing the charges is essential when writing chemical formulas.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct formula for the sulfate ion is option A) SO42-. Sulfate is a polyatomic anion with the formula SO42-, consisting of a central sulfur atom surrounded by four equivalent oxygen atoms in a tetrahedral arrangement. This ion has a charge of -2. The sulfate ion is a common component of various chemical compounds and plays an important role in environmental chemistry as well as biological systems.
When forming compounds, the sulfate ion commonly pairs with cations to form various types of salts. For instance, when combined with sodium (which has a +1 charge), a compound would require two sodium ions for one sulfate ion to balance the charge, resulting in the formula Na2SO4. Additionally, sulfate ions adhere to the octet rule, which helps in drawing its Lewis structure and predicting chemical reactivity and bonding.