In iron sulfate (FeSO₄), the bonding includes both ionic and covalent character. The compound consists of:
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Ionic Bonds: The iron ion (Fe²⁺) and the sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻) are held together by ionic bonds. This is due to the electrostatic attraction between the positively charged iron ion and the negatively charged sulfate ion.
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Covalent Bonds: Within the sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻), there are covalent bonds between the sulfur atom and the oxygen atoms. The sulfate ion features a central sulfur atom covalently bonded to four oxygen atoms, typically arranged in a tetrahedral geometry.
Overall, FeSO₄ displays a combination of ionic bonding (between the iron and the sulfate ion) and covalent bonding (within the sulfate ion itself).
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