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Phosphate
Phosphat-Ion.svg
Phosphate-3D-balls.png
Phosphate-3D-vdW.png
Identifiers
CAS number 14265-44-2
PubChem 1061
MeSH Phosphates
ChEBI CHEBI:18367
SMILES [O-]P([O-])([O-])=O
Beilstein Reference 3903772
Gmelin Reference 1997
Properties
Molecular formula PO43-
Molar mass 94.9714 g mol−1
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)

A phosphate is a salt of phosphoric acid. Phosphates are important in biochemistry. Phosphates have the formula PO43- and a molar mass of 94.973 g/mol. An example of a phosphate is sodium phosphate. Three different types of phosphates are known. They are orthophosphate, PO43-; metaphosphate, PO32-; and pyrophosphate, P2O73-.

Phosphate Group
The phosphate functional group

Structure

Phosphates are made of one phosphorus atom surrounded by four oxygen atoms. Many phosphates do not dissolve in water.

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See also

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