Sulfate vs. Sulfite

Sulfatenoun

(organic chemistry) Any ester of sulfuric acid.

Sulfatenoun

(inorganic chemistry) Any salt of sulfuric acid.

Sulfateverb

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

Sulfateverb

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

Sulfatenoun

a salt or ester of sulphuric acid

Sulfate

The sulfate or sulphate ion is a polyatomic anion with the empirical formula SO2−4. Salts, acid derivatives, and peroxides of sulfate are widely used in industry.

Sulfitenoun

Any salt of sulfurous acid.

Sulfite

Sulfites or sulphites are compounds that contain the sulfite ion (or the sulfate(IV) ion, from its correct systematic name), SO2−3. The sulfite ion is the conjugate base of bisulfite.