Which Charge Does Iron (Fe) Have in Iron Sulfate (FeSO4)?

In iron sulfate (FeSO₄), iron (Fe) forms an ionic bond with the sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻). The sulfate ion carries a charge of -2, and since the compound is neutral overall, the positive charge from iron must balance this negative charge. To achieve neutrality, iron must have a charge of +2. This means that in iron sulfate, iron exists as the Fe²⁺ ion. Understanding the charge of iron in this context is essential for determining its role in the compound’s structure and its chemical behavior in reactions. Therefore, in FeSO₄, the charge on iron is +2.