How Do You Find the Mass of Sulfate?

To find the mass of a sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻), you calculate its molar mass by summing the atomic masses of each element present in the ion.

Here's how you do it:

1. Identify the elements and their quantities: A sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻) contains one sulfur atom (S) and four oxygen atoms (O).

2. Find the atomic masses of each element: You can find these on the periodic table.

   • Sulfur (S) has an atomic mass of approximately 32 atomic mass units (amu) or 32 g/mol.
   • Oxygen (O) has an atomic mass of approximately 16 amu or 16 g/mol.

3. Calculate the total mass: Multiply the atomic mass of each element by the number of atoms of that element in the sulfate ion and then add them together.

   Molar Mass of SO₄²⁻ = (1 × Atomic mass of S) + (4 × Atomic mass of O)
   Molar Mass of SO₄²⁻ = (1 × 32 g/mol) + (4 × 16 g/mol)
   Molar Mass of SO₄²⁻ = 32 g/mol + 64 g/mol
   Molar Mass of SO₄²⁻ = 96 g/mol

Therefore, the molar mass of the sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻) is approximately 96 g/mol. This represents the mass of one mole of sulfate ions.