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Phosphate
Phosphat-Ion.svg
Phosphate-3D-balls.png
Phosphate-3D-vdW.png
Systematic name
Phosphate
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.

Images for kids

  • Phosphate Mine Panorama

    Phosphate mine near Flaming Gorge, Utah, US, 2008

  • Train loaded with phosphate rock, Metlaoui Tunisia-4298B

    Train loaded with phosphate rock, Métlaoui, Tunisia, 2012

  • WOA09 sea-surf PO4 AYool

    Sea surface phosphate from the World Ocean Atlas

  • PhosphatetoNitrate

    Relationship of phosphate to nitrate uptake for photosynthesis in various regions of the ocean. Note that nitrate is more often limiting than phosphate. See the Redfield ratio.

  • 3-phosphoric-acid-3D-balls

    H3PO4 Phosphoric acid

  • 2-dihydrogenphosphate-3D-balls

    [H2PO4]− Dihydrogen phosphate

  • 1-hydrogenphosphate-3D-balls

    [HPO4]2− Hydrogen phosphate

  • 0-phosphate-3D-balls

    [PO4]3− Phosphate

See also

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