Ions

• Are Sulfate Bonds Nonpolar Covalent or Ionic?
  Sulfate is a 2− polyatomic ion with polar covalent sulfur–oxygen bonds; ionic attraction occurs between sulfate and counterions in salts.
• Can a Metal Form an Anion?
  Yes. Some metal atoms bind an extra electron, and unusual compounds can stabilize metal anions; the details depend on the metal and environment.