sulfate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “sulfate” mean?
A chemical compound or salt containing the sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻), often formed from sulfuric acid.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A chemical compound or salt containing the sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻), often formed from sulfuric acid.
1) A compound used in industry, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals. 2) The act of treating or combining with sulfuric acid or a sulfate (verb).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: UK standard is 'sulphate'; US standard is 'sulfate'. Pronunciation differs accordingly (see IPA).
Connotations
None. Purely technical.
Frequency
Equal frequency in respective technical contexts; 'sulfate' spelling is increasingly common in UK scientific publishing due to IUPAC influence.
Grammar
How to Use “sulfate” in a Sentence
[N] + sulfatesulfate of [N]to sulfate [NP]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sulfate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The process will sulphate the metal, forming a protective layer.
- Researchers sulphated the compound to study its new properties.
American English
- The wastewater is sulfated to precipitate out contaminants.
- They sulfated the sample for the analytical test.
adjective
British English
- sulphate-containing minerals
- a sulphate-rich solution
American English
- sulfate-containing minerals
- a sulfate-rich solution
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In manufacturing/product specifications: 'The shampoo is sulfate-free.'
Academic
In chemistry/geology/environmental science papers: 'The analysis detected high levels of atmospheric sulfate.'
Everyday
Limited to product labels (e.g., 'sulfate-free shampoo') or water quality reports.
Technical
Precise chemical naming, industrial processes, geochemical analysis, corrosion science.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sulfate”
Strong
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sulfate”
- Misspelling as 'sulphate' in US contexts or 'sulfate' in strict UK contexts.
- Confusing sulfate with sulfite or sulfide.
- Using as a common everyday noun instead of a technical term.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct. 'Sulfate' is standard American English and recommended by IUPAC. 'Sulphate' is standard British English, though 'sulfate' is gaining ground in scientific UK writing.
It means the shampoo does not contain surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), which are strong cleansers some people find drying or irritating.
Yes, but it is a technical verb meaning 'to treat, combine with, or convert into a sulfate.' It is uncommon in everyday language.
They are different polyatomic ions. Sulfate is SO₄²⁻. Sulfite is SO₃²⁻. They have different chemical properties and uses (e.g., sulfites are often used as preservatives in food).
A chemical compound or salt containing the sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻), often formed from sulfuric acid.
Sulfate is usually technical/scientific in register.
Sulfate: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsʌl.feɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsʌl.feɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SULFur + ATE = SULFATE (A compound you get when sulfuric acid has 'eaten' or reacted with something).
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAMINANT/AGENT (in environmental contexts: 'sulfate pollution'), CLEANSER/AGGRESSOR (in cosmetics: 'harsh sulfates').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the spelling 'sulphate' most likely to be used?