Question

What is the formula for calcium sulfate?

Answer 1

`CaSO_4`

Explanation:

Calcium is a Group 2 metal; it tends to lose 2 electrons upon oxidation to form the `Ca^(2+)` ion. Sulfate ion has a formula of `SO_4^(2-)`. Formation of the binary salt, `CaSO_4`, is thus electrically and chemically reasonable.