Lewis structure of sulfate (SO₄²⁻)

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Lewis structure of the sulfate ion: sulfur single-bonded to four oxygens, each with three lone pairs, in brackets with a 2− charge and formal charges — The Lewis structure of the sulfate ion, SO₄²⁻, following the octet rule: sulfur single-bonded to four oxygen atoms, each oxygen with three lone pairs. The structure is in square brackets with the 2− charge, and formal charges are shown (+2 on sulfur, −1 on each oxygen).

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Answer key

SO₄²⁻: 32 valence electrons
4 single bonds; 12 lone pairs
Formal charges: S +2, O −1 (×4); all other atoms 0

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