English

Noun

phosphates

1. Plural of phosphate

French

Noun

m|p

1. Plural of phosphate

A phosphate, in inorganic chemistry, is a salt of phosphoric acid. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in industry.

In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry.

Chemical properties

The phosphate ion is a polyatomic ion with the empirical formula PO43− and a molar mass of 94.973 g/mol; it consists of one central phosphorus atom surrounded by four identical oxygen atoms in a tetrahedral arrangement. The phosphate ion carries a negative three formal charge and is the conjugate base of the hydrogenphosphate ion, HPO42−, which is the conjugate base of H2PO4−, the dihydrogen phosphate ion, which in turn is the conjugate base of H3PO4, phosphoric acid. It is a hypervalent molecule (the phosphorus atom has 10 electrons in its valence shell). Phosphate is also an organophosphorus compound with the formula OP(OR)3

A phosphate salt forms when a positively-charged ion attaches to the negatively-charged oxygen atoms of the ion, forming an ionic compound. Many phosphates are not soluble in water at standard temperature and pressure.

In dilute aqueous solution, phosphate exists in four forms. In strongly-basic conditions, the phosphate ion (PO43−) predominates, whereas in weakly-basic conditions, the hydrogen phosphate ion (HPO42−) is prevalent. In weakly-acid conditions, the dihydrogen phosphate ion (H2PO4−) is most common. In strongly-acid conditions, aqueous phosphoric acid (H3PO4) is the main form.

More precisely, considering the following three equilibrium reactions:

H3PO4 H+ + H2PO4−

H2PO4− H+ + HPO42−

HPO42− H+ + PO43−

the corresponding constants at 25°C (in mol/L) are (see phosphoric acid):

K_=\frac\simeq 7.5\times10^

K_=\frac\simeq 6.2\times10^

K_=\frac\simeq 2.14\times10^

For a strongly-basic pH (pH=13), we find

\frac\simeq 7.5\times10^ \mbox\frac\simeq 6.2\times10^5 \mbox \frac\simeq 2.14

showing that only PO43− and HPO42− are in significant amounts.

For a neutral pH (for example the cytosol pH=7.0), we find

\frac\simeq 7.5\times10^4 \mbox\frac\simeq 0.62 \mbox \frac\simeq 2.14\times10^

so that only H2PO4− and HPO42− ions are in significant amounts (62% H2PO4−, 38% HPO42−). Note that in the extracellular fluid (pH=7.4), this proportion is inverted (61% HPO42−, 39% H2PO4−).

For a strongly-acid pH (pH=1), we find

\frac\simeq 0.075 \mbox\frac\simeq 6.2\times10^ \mbox \frac\simeq 2.14\times10^

showing that H3PO4 is dominant with respect to H2PO4−. HPO42− and PO43− are practically absent.

Phosphate can form many polymeric ions such as diphosphate (also pyrophosphate), P2O74−, and triphosphate, P3O105−. The various metaphosphate ions have an empirical formula of PO3− and are found in many compounds.

Phosphate deposits can contain significant amounts of naturally occurring uranium. Uptake of these substances by plants can lead to high uranium concentrations in crops.

Cellular function

Phosphate is useful in animal cells as a buffering agent. The kinds of phosphate that are useful as buffers include NaH2PO4- and H2PO4-.

See also

• organophosphorus compounds
• Phosphine - PR3
• Phosphine oxide - OPR3
• Phosphinite - P(OR)R2
• Phosphonite - P(OR)2R
• Phosphite - P(OR)3
• Phosphinate - OP(OR)R2
• Phosphonate - OP(OR)2R
• Phosphate - OP(OR)3, such as triphenyl phosphate

Further reading

• Schmittner Karl-Erich and Giresse Pierre, 1999. Micro-environmental controls on biomineralization: superficial processes of apatite and calcite precipitation in Quaternary soils, Roussillon, France. Sedimentology 46/3: 463-476.
• http://www.fluoridealert.org/phosphate/overview.htm#9, discusses environmental hazards of the phosphate fertilizer industry

References

External links

• Website of the Technische Universität Darmstadt and the CEEP about Phosphorus Recovery