The chemical formula for copper sulfate is which of the following?

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Multiple Choice

The chemical formula for copper sulfate is which of the following?

Explanation:
The main idea here is balancing charges between a metal cation and a polyatomic anion to make a neutral compound. Copper forms Cu2+, and the sulfate ion is SO4^2-. One Cu2+ pairs with one SO4^2- to balance to zero overall, giving the formula CuSO4. This is copper(II) sulfate. The other formulas don’t represent copper sulfate: CuS would be copper sulfide (Cu2+ with S^2−, a different compound); Cu2SO4 would put too much positive charge with two Cu2+ for one SO4^2−, not a neutral salt of this anion; CuSO3 would be copper sulfite, where the anion is SO3^2−, not sulfate.

The main idea here is balancing charges between a metal cation and a polyatomic anion to make a neutral compound. Copper forms Cu2+, and the sulfate ion is SO4^2-. One Cu2+ pairs with one SO4^2- to balance to zero overall, giving the formula CuSO4. This is copper(II) sulfate.

The other formulas don’t represent copper sulfate: CuS would be copper sulfide (Cu2+ with S^2−, a different compound); Cu2SO4 would put too much positive charge with two Cu2+ for one SO4^2−, not a neutral salt of this anion; CuSO3 would be copper sulfite, where the anion is SO3^2−, not sulfate.

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