A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in agriculture and industry. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry.
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A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in agriculture and industry. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry.
Chemical properties


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−
- (pKa1 2.16)
- (pKa2 7.21)
- (pKa3 12.32)
the corresponding constants at 25°C (in mol/L) are (see phosphoric acid):
For a strongly-basic pH (pH=13), we find
showing that only PO43− and HPO42− are in significant amounts.























