Which charge does iron (Fe) have in iron sulfate (FeSO4)?
A) -1
B) +2
C) -2
D)+2
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is B) +2.
Iron sulfate is a chemical compound that consists of iron (Fe) and sulfate (SO₄²⁻) ions. To determine the charge of iron (Fe) in iron sulfate (FeSO₄), we need to understand how the charges of the ions in the compound balance.
- Sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻):
The sulfate ion is a polyatomic ion with a fixed charge of -2. This is a standard charge for the sulfate ion, meaning that the sulfate ion carries 2 negative charges. - Charge balance in the compound:
In iron sulfate (FeSO₄), the compound is electrically neutral, meaning the total positive charge from the iron ion (Fe) must balance the total negative charge from the sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻). Since the sulfate ion has a charge of -2, the iron ion must have a charge of +2 to balance the overall charge of the compound. - Iron in its common oxidation states:
Iron can exist in two common oxidation states: +2 and +3. In iron sulfate (FeSO₄), iron exists in the +2 oxidation state. This is because iron in the +2 state (Fe²⁺) forms the compound FeSO₄, where one Fe²⁺ ion combines with one sulfate (SO₄²⁻) ion. The resulting compound is electrically neutral, with the Fe²⁺ ion balancing the -2 charge of the sulfate ion.
Therefore, in iron sulfate (FeSO₄), iron has a charge of +2. This is why the correct answer is B) +2.
To summarize:
- Sulfate (SO₄²⁻) has a charge of -2.
- Iron (Fe) must have a charge of +2 to balance the charges in the compound.
- Hence, in FeSO₄, the iron ion (Fe²⁺) has a charge of +2.