What is the systematic name for MgSO4?

The systematic name for MgSO4 is magnesium sulfate because it accurately reflects the components of the compound. In this case, Mg represents magnesium, a metallic element that carries a +2 charge, while SO4 represents the sulfate ion, a polyatomic ion consisting of one sulfur atom covalently bonded to four oxygen atoms, with an overall charge of -2.

When naming ionic compounds, the metal is named first, followed by the anion. Here, "sulfate" is the correct name for the SO4 ion, derived from sulfur. The naming convention follows IUPAC rules, which dictate that the name of the cation (magnesium) is given first, followed by the anion (sulfate), seamlessly leading to the name magnesium sulfate.

Using "Mg sulfate" is incomplete since systematic naming conventions require the full systematic names of the ions involved. "Magnesium sulfide" refers to a different compound that contains only magnesium and sulfur, without oxygen, and is not applicable here. "Sulfate magnesium" fails to follow the correct order of naming, where the metal should precede the anion. Thus, magnesium sulfate is the clear, systematic name for this compound.