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sulfate
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sulfate
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Also spelled:
Sulphate
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sulfate
sulfate Anhydrous magnesium sulfate.

sulfate

chemical compound
Also known as: sulphate
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History

sulfate, any of numerous chemical compounds related to sulfuric acid, H2SO4. One group of these derivatives is composed of salts containing the sulfate ion, SO42-, and positively charged ions such as those of sodium, magnesium, or ammonium; a second group is composed of esters, in which the hydrogen atoms of sulfuric acid have been replaced by carbon-containing combining groups such as methyl (CH3) or ethyl (C2H5).

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.