sulfate

[suhl-feyt]

noun

1. Chemistry.,  a salt or ester of sulfuric acid.

verb (used with object)

sulfated, sulfating 

1. to combine, treat, or impregnate with sulfuric acid, a sulfate, or sulfates.

2. to convert into a sulfate.

3. Electricity.,  to form a deposit of lead-sulfate compound on (the lead electrodes of a storage battery).

verb (used without object)

sulfated, sulfating 

1. to become sulfated.

sulfate

1. A salt or ester of sulfuric acid, containing the group SO ₄.

Other Word Forms

• sulfation noun
• supersulfate noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sulfate¹

From the New Latin word sulphātum, dating back to 1780–90. See sulfur, -ate ²

Example Sentences

Some chemical compounds, like copper sulfate, are allowed to help control plant diseases, but need to be used in a way that minimizes their accumulation on soil and avoids leaving residues on crops.

Read more on Salon

Your body also produces about 700 milligrams of sulfites daily as you metabolize the protein in your food and excrete it as sulfate.

Read more on Salon

Then in 2012, rogue businessman Russ George took a ship off the Pacific coast of British Columbia and dumped some 100 tons of iron sulfate into the water.

Read more on Salon

The researchers note that the only way to prevent additional wildfires when cleaning up reflective sulfate air pollution is to simultaneously reduce emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane.

Read more on Science Daily

Because aerosol particles like sulfate and their precursors like sulfur dioxide reflect sunlight and help make clouds brighter, removing them means more of the sun's heat hits the ground.

Read more on Science Daily