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Sulfate vs. Sulfite

The main difference between sulfate and sulfite is that sulfate formed of four oxygen atoms that are further bonded to a sulfur atom, whereas sulfite made up of three oxygen atoms that bonded to a sulfur atom.

Key Differences

An anion which made up of four oxygen atom is sulfate that is bonded to a sulfur atom, while an anion formed of oxygen atoms and a sulfur atom is known as sulfite.
Many sulfates are normally water-soluble; on the other hand, various sulfites are usually water-insoluble.
In sulfate, +6 is deliberated as the oxidation form of sulfur; conversely, in sulfite, +4 is normally the oxidation form of sulfite.
Aimie Carlson
Jan 16, 2020
The shape of sulfates is tetrahedral; on the contrary, the shape of sulfite is trigonal pyramidal.
Samantha Walker
Jan 16, 2020
Sulfate initiatives to the third power of oxidation; on the flip side, sulfite initiatives to the second power of oxidation.
96 g/mole is the molar mass of sulfate, whereas 80 g/mole is the molar mass of sulfite.
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Sulfate, in its structure, contains one more oxygen atom; on the other hand, sulfite in its whole structure contains one smaller amount of oxygen atom.
Harlon Moss
Jan 16, 2020
On sulfur atom of sulfate, it usually consists of a positive charge; on the contrary, on sulfur atom of sulfite, it normally has a negative charge.
Samantha Walker
Jan 16, 2020
The empirical formula of sulfate is SO2-4, while the empirical formula of sulfite is SO2-3.
Sulfate mainly used in dish soap, in-floor cleaners, in body washes, and shampoos, while sulfite greatly used in the human body and some assortments of food.
Samantha Walker
Jan 16, 2020
During the reaction process, sulfate normally cannot undergo oxidation reactions; on the flip side, in the reaction process, sulfite always undergoes complete oxidation reactions.
Samantha Walker
Jan 16, 2020
The sulfur atom present in sulfate has one more sulfur than sulfur atom presents in sulfite.
Samantha Walker
Jan 16, 2020
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Some calcium sulfate can be used in beer production, but sulfate itself is not involved in the production of wine; on the contrary, sulfite is mainly used in wine formation because they implement as antibacterial by stopping microbial growth.
The acid products, peroxides, and sulfate salts are much used in industry, whereas sulfite is an inexpressible acid and used in planned food flavors.
Samantha Walker
Jan 16, 2020
Sulfate deliberate as the salt of sulfuric acid and normally produce from that sulfuric acid, during sulfite deliberate as the naturally happening substance.
Aimie Carlson
Jan 16, 2020

Comparison Chart

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Sulfate considered a compound that consists of an anion that made up of four oxygen atom bonded to a sulfur atom.
Sulfite is a compound that consists of an anion and formed of oxygen atoms and a sulfur atom.

Molar Mass

96 g/mole
80 g/mole

Solubility

Normally soluble in water
Usually insoluble in water.
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Geometry

Tetrahedral around the sulfur atom
Trigonal pyramidal around the sulfur atom
Janet White
Jan 16, 2020

Oxidation State of Sulfur

+6 considered as the oxidation state of sulfur
+4, normally the oxidation state of sulfite.
Samantha Walker
Jan 16, 2020

Oxidation Reactions

Cannot go through oxidation reactions
Go through complete oxidation reactions

More Oxygen Atoms

Consist of one more oxygen atom
Consist of one less oxygen atom

Charge on Sulfur

has a positive charge on its sulfur atom
Has a negative charge on its sulfur atom

More Sulfur Atom

Consist of one more sulfur
Consist of one less sulfur

Power of Oxidation

Drives to the third power of oxidation
Drives to the second power of oxidation

Empirical Formula

SO2-4
SO2-3
Aimie Carlson
Jan 16, 2020

Significance

The acid derivatives, peroxides, and salts mostly used in industry
An indefinable acid and used in regulated food additives
Samantha Walker
Jan 16, 2020

Artificial/Natural Occurring

Consider as the salt of sulfuric acid and usually made from that sulfuric acid
Consider as the naturally occurring substance
Janet White
Jan 16, 2020

Uses

Readily used in dish soap, in-floor cleaners, in body washes, and shampoos
Widely used in the human body and some varieties of food
Harlon Moss
Jan 16, 2020

In Production of Wine

Not involved in the formation of wine but some calcium sulfate can be used in beer production
Used in wine production because they perform as a preservative by stopping microbial growth

Sulfate and Sulfite Definitions

Sulfate

The divalent group SO4 or a compound containing this group.

Sulfite

The divalent anionic group SO3, derived from sulfurous acid, or a compound containing this group.

Sulfate

To treat or react with sulfuric acid or a sulfate.

Sulfite

Any salt of sulfurous acid.

Sulfate

(Electricity) To cause lead sulfate to accumulate on (the plates of a lead-acid storage battery).

Sulfate

To become sulfated.

Sulfate

(organic chemistry) Any ester of sulfuric acid.

Sulfate

(inorganic chemistry) Any salt of sulfuric acid.

Sulfate

To treat something with sulfuric acid, a sulfate, or with sulfur dioxide.

Sulfate

(of a lead-acid battery) To accumulate a deposit of lead sulfate.

Sulfate

A salt or ester of sulphuric acid

Sulfate vs. Sulfite

Sulfate consider as an anion that made up of four oxygen atom bonded to a sulfur atom, while sulfite considers as an anion formed of oxygen atoms and a sulfur atom. 96 g/mole is the molar mass of sulfate, whereas 80 g/mole is the molar mass of sulfite. Various sulfates usually are soluble in water; on the other hand, many sulfites are usually insoluble in water.

The geometry of sulfates is tetrahedral around the sulfur atom; on the contrary, the geometry of sulfite is trigonal pyramidal around the sulfur atom. In sulfate, +6 considered as the oxidation state of sulfur; conversely, in sulfite, +4 usually is the oxidation state of sulfite. Sulfate normally cannot go through oxidation reactions during the reaction process; on the flip side, sulfite always goes through complete oxidation reactions in the reaction process.

Sulfate consists of one more oxygen atom in its structure; on the other hand, sulfite consists of one less oxygen atom in its whole structure. Sulfate usually has a positive charge on its sulfur atom; on the contrary, sulfite normally has a negative charge on its sulfur atom. The sulfur atom present in sulfate has one more sulfur than sulfur atom presents in sulfite.

Sulfate drives to the third power of oxidation mean -3; on the flip side, sulfite drives to the second power of oxidation means have -2. The empirical formula of sulfate is SO2-4, while the empirical formula of sulfite is SO2-3. The acid derivatives, peroxides, and salts of sulfate are mostly used in industry, whereas sulfite is an indefinable acid and used in regulated food additives.

Sulfate consider as the salt of sulfuric acid and usually made from that sulfuric acid, which readily used in dish soap, in-floor cleaners, in body washes, and shampoos. In contrast, sulfite considers the naturally occurring substance that widely used in the human body and some varieties of food. Sulfate is not involved in the formation of wine, but some calcium sulfate can be used in beer production; on the contrary, sulfite is widely used in wine production because they perform as a preservative by stopping microbial growth.

What is Sulfate?

The term sulfate described as the compound that consists of an anion made up of four oxygen atom bonded to a sulfur atom. The sulfate anion present in sulfate has -2 charge. The molecular/empirical formula of sulfate is generally SO4-2.

Sulfate anion considered as the conjugated base or salt of the sulfuric acid and usually made from that sulfuric acid. The anions and a proton (H+) of sulfate formed when sulfuric acid is broken down into its ions.

When bonds between sulfur and oxygen atoms deliberated, the two oxygen atoms of sulfate are bonded by double bonds with a sulfur atom, and single bonds with a sulfur atom bond the other two atoms of oxygen. The bonding is due to the sulfur atom that can make a maximum of six bonds around its structure. Hence, negative charges can be seen on single-bonded oxygen atoms.

In sulfate, +6 is considered as the oxidation state of sulfur, and the oxidation state of each oxygen atom is calculated as -2. When experimentally considered sulfur atom and an oxygen atom, because of the phenomenon of resonance, the bond lengths between the sulfur atom and oxygen atoms are the same.

The electrons which are present around sulfur atoms and oxygen atoms become delocalized because of the overlapping of orbitals. The exact bond length between oxygen and sulfur atoms is at 149pm. The examples of common sulfates are Baryte (BaSO4), Anglesite (PbSO4), Anhydrite (CaSO4), Gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O), and Epsomite (MgSO4.7H2O).

What is Sulfite?

The term sulfite described as a compound that consists of an anion and formed of oxygen atoms and a sulfur atom. Sulfur atom of sulfite consists of only one sulfur atom, which bonded to three oxygen atoms. The charge present on sulfite anion is -2.

Sulfite consists of three oxygen atoms, and in sulfite anion, one oxygen atom is bonded to sulfur atom through the double bond. The other two oxygen atoms are bonded through the single bonds with the sulfur atom. The bond lengths present around the oxygen and sulfur atoms are the same, and the value of bond length is also the same between sulfur and oxygen atoms because of resonance in structure.

Furthermore, a lone pair of electrons is present on a sulfur atom in sulfite anion. +4 is considered the oxidation state of sulfite, and -2 is the oxidation state of each oxygen atom present in sulfite anion. Sulfites are generally soluble in water, such as sulfites K+, NH+, and Na+.

The examples of common sulfite are Copper Sulfite (CuSO3), Zinc Sulfite (ZnSO3), Magnesium Sulfite (MgSO3), and Potassium Sulfite (K2SO3).

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