Sodium phosphate facts for kids

Sodium phosphate is a name for a group of chemical compounds that are made from sodium and phosphate. Think of phosphate as a building block that can connect to three other things.

These compounds are a bit like a family. They all have phosphate, but they have different amounts of hydrogen and sodium atoms attached. This changes how they act and what they are used for.

• If the phosphate has three hydrogen atoms, it's called phosphoric acid.
• If it has two hydrogen atoms and one sodium atom, it's called sodium dihydrogen phosphate.
• If it has one hydrogen atom and two sodium atoms, it's called disodium hydrogen phosphate.
• If it has three sodium atoms, it's called trisodium phosphate.

Each type of sodium phosphate has its own special uses!

Sodium Dihydrogen Phosphate: What It Is and How It's Used

Sodium dihydrogen phosphate is also known as monosodium phosphate. Its chemical formula is NaH₂PO₄. This compound is acidic, meaning it has a low pH.

Uses of Sodium Dihydrogen Phosphate

• It is often found in some baking powders. It helps make baked goods rise.
• It can be used as a laxative to help with digestion.
• It works as a pH buffer. This means it helps keep a chemical mixture from becoming too acidic or too basic. It helps keep the pH stable.

How Sodium Dihydrogen Phosphate Is Made

This compound is made by mixing a small amount of sodium hydroxide with phosphoric acid.

Disodium Hydrogen Phosphate: What It Is and How It's Used

Disodium hydrogen phosphate is also called disodium phosphate. Its chemical formula is Na₂HPO₄. This compound is usually about neutral, meaning it is not very acidic or very basic.

Uses of Disodium Hydrogen Phosphate

• It is used in foods to stop ingredients from clumping together. This helps food products stay smooth.

How Disodium Hydrogen Phosphate Is Made

This compound is made by mixing some sodium hydroxide with phosphorus.

Trisodium Phosphate: What It Is and How It's Used

Trisodium phosphate

Trisodium phosphate is also known simply as sodium phosphate. Its chemical formula is Na₃PO₄. This compound is basic, meaning it has a high pH.

Uses of Trisodium Phosphate

• In the past, it was used in detergents for cleaning.
• However, using it in detergents caused problems. The phosphate would get into water and make too much algae grow. This is called an algal bloom and can harm water environments. Because of this, it is not used in many detergents anymore.

How Trisodium Phosphate Is Made

This compound is made by combining sodium hydroxide and phosphoric acid.

Related Pages

• Phosphite
• Sodium phosphite
• Hypophosphite

Images for kids

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  Sodium dihydrogen phosphate

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  Sodium hydrogen phosphate

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  Trisodium phosphate

See also

In Spanish: Fosfato sódico para niños