In inorganic chemistry, a sulfate (IUPAC-recommended spelling; also sulphate in British English)'s a salt of sulfuric acid. Chemical properties The sulfate ion's a polyatomic anion with the empirical formula SO42− and a molecular mass of 96.06 daltons; it consists of a central sulfur atom surrounded by four equivalent oxygen atoms in a tetrahedral arrangement. The sulfur atom's in the +6 oxidation state while the four oxygen atoms are each in the -2 state. The sulfate ion carries a negati… (More on Sulfate)