Phosphate

This article is about the orthophosphate ion. For the organophosphorus derivatives, see Organophosphate. For other phosphates, see phosphoric acids and phosphates.

Not to be confused with phosphate soda, phosphonate, or phosphorus.

Phosphate

Stereo skeletal formula of phosphate
Aromatic ball and stick model of phosphate Space-filling model of phosphate
Names
IUPAC name Phosphate
Other names Orthophosphate Tetraoxophosphate(V) Tetraoxidophosphate(V)
Identifiers
CAS Number	14265-44-2 Y
3D model (JSmol)	hypervalent form: Interactive image ionic form: Interactive image
Beilstein Reference	3903772
ChEBI	CHEBI:18367 Y
ChemSpider	1032 Y
Gmelin Reference	1997
MeSH	Phosphates
PubChem CID	1061
UNII	NK08V8K8HR Y
InChI InChI=1S/H3O4P/c1-5(2,3)4/h(H3,1,2,3,4)/p-3 Y Key: NBIIXXVUZAFLBC-UHFFFAOYSA-K Y
SMILES hypervalent form: [O-]P([O-])([O-])=O ionic form: [O-][P+]([O-])([O-])[O-]
Properties
Chemical formula	PO43−
Molar mass	94.9714 g mol−1
Conjugate acid	Monohydrogen phosphate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Y verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

A phosphate is an anion, salt, functional group or ester derived from a phosphoric acid. It most commonly means orthophosphate, a derivative of orthophosphoric acid, a.k.a. phosphoric acid H₃PO₄.

The phosphate or orthophosphate ion PO₄³⁻ is derived from phosphoric acid by the removal of three protons H⁺. Removal of one proton gives the dihydrogen phosphate ion H₂PO₄⁻ while removal of two protons gives the hydrogen phosphate ion HPO₄²⁻. These names are also used in chemistry for salts of those anions, such as ammonium dihydrogen phosphate and trisodium phosphate.

• 
  H₃PO₄
  Phosphoric
  acid
• 
  H₂PO₄⁻
  Dihydrogen
  phosphate
• 
  HPO₄²⁻
  Hydrogen
  phosphate
• 
  PO₄³⁻
  Phosphate or orthophosphate

In organic chemistry, phosphate or orthophosphate is an organophosphate, an ester of orthophosphoric acid of the form PO₄RR′R″ where one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by organic groups. An example is trimethyl phosphate, (CH₃)₃PO₄. The term also refers to the trivalent functional group OP(O⁻)₃ in such esters. Phosphates may contain sulfur in place of one or more oxygen atoms (thiophosphates and organothiophosphates).

Orthophosphates are especially important among the various phosphates because of their key roles in biochemistry, biogeochemistry, and ecology, and their economic importance for agriculture and industry. The addition and removal of phosphate groups (phosphorylation and dephosphorylation) are key steps in cell metabolism. Phosphates are a major component of agricultural fertilizers and play an important role in plant growth. Since phosphates stimulate plant growth, too much phosphate in the environment can cause pollution in the environment and lead to excessive plant growth.

Phosphates are mined around the world for use in agriculture and industry. Mining is a source of heavy metal pollution.

Orthophosphates can condense to form pyrophosphates.