Question

The correct formula of silver sulfate is:

Answer 1

The chemical formula of silver sulfate is found by using the concept of the valency of the atom which is the capacity of any substance to gain/lose the electron. Valency of Ag is +1 and that of the sulphate ion $\text{SO}_{4}^{2-}$is -2. Now, find the chemical formula.

Complete answer:
Silver sulfate is an inorganic compound and it consists of the elements silver and sulphate and it is formed by the reaction of the silver and the sulfate and results in the formation of a neutral salt i.e. silver sulfate.
We can find the formula of silver sulfate by using their valency i.e. on the basis of their tendency to lose or gain the electrons.
Silver atoms can lose a maximum of 1 electrons from its valence shell to attain the nearest noble gas configuration and thus exhibits +1 oxidation state in most of their compounds and so, there valency is +1. On the other hand, sulphate has a tendency to gain two electrons and thus exhibits -2 oxidation state in their compounds and so, their valency is -2.
So, the chemical formula of calcium sulfate is:
Ag $\text{SO}_{4}^{2-}$
1 2
On cross multiplication, 1 with sulphate ion and 2 with silver, the chemical formula of the silver sulphate turn out to be: $\text{A}{{\text{g}}_{2}}\text{S}{{\text{O}}_{4}}$.

Note:
Keep in mind the valency of calcium and the sulfate and in the sulfate ion we will not consider the valency of individual atoms present in it i.e. the valences of individual atoms i.e. oxygen and Sulphur would not be considered and the overall valency of sulfate ion is taken in it which is -2.