Question

Where are sulfates found?

Answer 1

An anion is an ion that has a negative charge and is formed by taking electrons. Sulfates exist in the form of anions, while the cation is formed by losing electrons. Sulfates exist in the form of anions. They consist of one sulphur and 4 oxygen atoms. They are widely applied in the chemical industry.

Complete answer: Sulfates are the ions containing sulfur and oxygen. They have an empirical formula of $S{{O}_{4}}^{2-}$. Sulfates are used in a variety of ways from everyday life, to environmental and industrial use.
Sulfates are found in nature, they are a part of seawater, mineral, ores, fossils, etc. Sulfates can be formed from the combustion of various fossils containing sulfur dioxide, or sulfur trioxide. It can also be found in traces of acid rain that contains sulfuric acid, due to oxidation of sulfur oxides in the atmosphere.
Sulfate salts contribute in large quantities in oceans and seas. Apart from this, they can be formed by treating metals or metal hydroxides with sulfuric acids. Sulfates are found in compounds like, ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate, copper sulfate, barium sulfate, some of their preparation include,
$Cu{{(OH)}_{2}}+{{H}_{2}}S{{O}_{4}}\to CuS{{O}_{4}}+2{{H}_{2}}O$ ,
$Zn+{{H}_{2}}S{{O}_{4}}\to ZnS{{O}_{4}}+{{H}_{2}}$
Sulfates are also found by the oxidation of metal sulfites and sulfides. It is obtained by the deprotonation of oxyacids of sulfur.
Hence, sulfates are found in nature, as well as derived from metals and chemicals.

Note: Sulfates are found in everyday life, like in shampoos, face washes, detergents. They are found in natural form like in gypsum, which calcium sulfate hemihydrates, and used in making plaster of paris.