1
be a sulphate of [metal]
sulphate 作名词时意为“硫酸盐/硫酸酯”，常用“a sulphate of + 金属/盐基”表示；化学名称中也常说“metal + sulphate”，如 calcium sulphate。
This mineral is a sulphate of calcium.
这种矿物是硫酸钙。
硫酸盐；硫酸酯
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
硫酸盐；硫酸酯
a salt or ester of sulphuric acid
This mineral is a sulphate of calcium.
这种矿物是硫酸钙。
The chemist added a small amount of copper sulphate to the solution to test the reaction.
化学家往溶液中加入少量硫酸铜来测试反应。
Some fertilizers contain sulphate, which helps plants absorb essential nutrients.
有些肥料含有硫酸盐，能帮助植物吸收必需的营养。
The water sample had a high level of sulphate, indicating possible industrial pollution.
水样本中硫酸盐含量很高，表明可能存在工业污染。
sulphate 作名词时意为“硫酸盐/硫酸酯”，常用“a sulphate of + 金属/盐基”表示；化学名称中也常说“metal + sulphate”，如 calcium sulphate。
This mineral is a sulphate of calcium.
这种矿物是硫酸钙。
sulphate 作不及物动词，意为“硫酸盐化”，主语常为电池极板；过去式和过去分词均为 sulphated。
The battery plates sulphate when the battery is not used for a long time.
电池长期不用时，极板会硫酸盐化。
Not this
The water sample contains several sulphate.
Use this
The water sample contains several sulphates.
汉语名词没有复数形式，容易漏掉 -s；sulphate 在这里指多种硫酸盐，是可数名词，复数应写成 sulphates。
Not this
This compound is sulphate.
Use this
This compound is a sulphate.
sulphate 指具体的盐或酯时是可数名词，可数名词单数前需要加冠词，所以要说 a sulphate。
Not this
Sulphates is widely used in industry.
Use this
Sulphates are widely used in industry.
sulphates 是复数形式，作主语时谓语动词要用复数 are；汉语动词没有单复数变化，容易误用 is。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
硫酸铜
Copper sulphate is used to control algae in ponds.
硫酸铜常用于控制池塘中的藻类。
硫酸镁
Magnesium sulphate is often sold as Epsom salts.
硫酸镁常以泻盐的形式出售。
硫酸钠
Sodium sulphate is used in the manufacture of paper.
硫酸钠用于造纸。
硫酸铵
Farmers use ammonium sulphate as a nitrogen fertilizer.
农民把硫酸铵用作氮肥。
硫酸亚铁
Ferrous sulphate can help treat iron deficiency.
硫酸亚铁有助于治疗缺铁。
硫酸盐含量
The drinking water has a low sulphate content.
这种饮用水的硫酸盐含量很低。
Use sulphate naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
联想 sulphur（硫）与 -ate（盐类后缀），sulphate 就是硫酸盐；注意英国拼写用 ph。
语域：formal 常见场景：chemistry、academic writing、pharmaceutical/industrial settings 作为专业化学术语，sulphate 通常用于科学论文、化学教材、医药或工业技术文件等正式书面语境，日常口语中比较少见。
The final syllable of sulphate is /feɪt/, matching fate and the ending of phosphate (but not a full rhyme because stress differs). Beware the spellings -feit in forfeit and counterfeit, where it is pronounced /fɪt/, and note that many common -ate words such as private and chocolate reduce the ending to /ɪt/ or /ət/.
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.