The formula for sulfate is SO4 with a 2- charge, and the correct formula for copper (II) sulfate, formed when copper reacts with sulfuric acid, is CuSO4.
Reactions of Copper and Sulfuric Acid
When copper reacts with sulfuric acid, copper (II) sulfate, water, and sulfur dioxide are formed. Copper (II) sulfate is a compound where copper has a +2 oxidation state.
The sulfate ion is essential to this compound's structure.
The formula for sulfate is SO4. As for the charge of sulfate, it carries a 2- charge.
This can be verified by considering that sulfuric acid, which contains the sulfate ion, has the formula H2SO4 where hydrogen (H) has a +1 charge, and to balance it, the sulfate (SO4) must have a 2- charge.
Therefore, the correct formula for copper (II) sulfate is CuSO4. This formula indicates that there is one copper ion (Cu2+) for every sulfate ion (SO42-) in the compound.