SO4, also known as sulfate ion, is a chemical compound belonging to the polyatomic ion group. The English name for SO4 is the sulfate ion. The atomic weight of SO4 is 96, while the atomic mass is 32 for O and 64 for S. SO4 consists of a sulfur atom at the center surrounded by four oxygen atoms, forming a tetrahedral shape.
Under normal conditions, SO4 does not exist in free form but usually combines with other elements to form sulfate salts such as CuSO4, Na2SO4, H2SO4… When combined with H+ (hydroxide ion), SO4 forms H2SO4, which is sulfuric acid, an important substance in the chemical industry.
In terms of physical properties, SO4 is colorless, odorless and has no specific state as it does not exist in a free form. The chemical properties of SO4 depend on the substance it combines with.
SO4 participates in many chemical reactions. In reactions with metals, SO4 forms the metal’s sulfate salt and hydrogen. In reactions with acids, SO4 forms sulfuric acid. In reactions with nonmetals, SO4 combines with the nonmetal to form other chemical compounds.
The preparation of SO4 is usually carried out in a chemistry laboratory, through the creation of sulfuric acid from sulfate salt. In industry, SO4 is prepared from the oxidation process of sulfur to produce SO2, which is then further oxidized to produce SO3 and finally form H2SO4.