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8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Phosphoric Acid site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Phosphoric Acid, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Phosphoric Acid, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
{{Chembox new| Name = Phosphoric acid| ImageFile = Phosphoric-acid-2D-dimensions.png| ImageName = Phosphoric acid| ImageFile1 = Phosphoric-acid-3D-vdW.png| ImageName1 = Phosphoric acid| OtherNames = Orthophosphoric acid| Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers| CASNo = 7664-38-2 -->
| Section2 = {{Chembox Properties| Formula = H3PO4| MolarMass = 98.0| Appearance = white solid or
colourless, viscous liquid (>42°C)| Density = 1.685 g/ml (liquid)| MeltingPt = 42.35 °C, 107.6°F, 567.27°R| BoilingPt = 158 °C, 415.4°F, 875.1°R
decomp.| pKa = 2.12, 7.21, 12.67| Viscosity = 85% aqueous solution
? Poise|? -->
| Section7 = {{Chembox Hazards| EUClass =
Corrosive(
C)| RPhrases = | SPhrases = , , -->
| Section8 = {{Chembox Related| OtherAnions =
Nitric acidArsenic acid
[Trisodium phosphate
[Phosphorous acid
Pyrophosphoric acidTripolyphosphoric acid
Hypophosphoric acidPerphosphoric acid
Permonophosphoric acid -->
-->
Phosphoric acid, also known as
orthophosphoric acid or
phosphoric(V) acid, is a
mineral acid having the
chemical formula Hydrogen3
PhosphorusOxygen4. Alternatively, orthophosphoric acid molecules can combine with themselves to form a variety of compounds referred to as
phosphoric acids in a more general way. The term "phosphoric acid" can also refer to a
chemical or
reagent consisting of phosphoric acids, usually mostly orthophosphoric acid.
Orthophosphoric acid chemistry
Pure anhydrous phosphoric acid is a white solid that melts at 42.35 °C to form a colorless, viscous liquid.
Most people and even chemists simply refer to orthophosphoric acid as "phosphoric acid", which is the IUPAC name for this compound. The prefix
ortho- usually is used when one wants to distinguish it from other phosphoric acids called polyphosphoric acids. Orthophosphoric acid is a non-toxic, inorganic, rather weak triprotic acid which, when pure, is a solid at room
temperature and pressure. The
chemical structure of orthophosphoric acid is shown above in the data table. Orthophosphoric acid is a very Chemical polarity molecule, therefore it is highly soluble in water. The
oxidation state of
phosphorus (P) in ortho- and other phosphoric acids is +5; the oxidation state of all the
oxygens (O) is -2 and all the
hydrogens (H) is +1. Triprotic means that an orthophosphoric acid molecule can dissociate up to three times, giving up an H+ each time, which typically combines with a
Water (molecule), H2O, as shown in these
chemical reaction:
H3PO4(s) + H2O(l) H3O+(aq) + H2PO4–(aq)
Ka1= 7.5×10−3
H2PO4–(aq)+ H2O(l) H3O+(aq) + HPO42–(aq)
Ka2= 6.2×10−8
HPO42–(aq)+ H2O(l) H3O+(aq) + PO43–(aq)
Ka3= 2.14×10−13
The anion after the first dissociation, H2PO4–, is the
dihydrogen phosphate anion. The anion after the second dissociation, HPO42–, is the
hydrogen phosphate anion. The anion after the third dissociation, PO43–, is the
phosphate or
orthophosphate anion. For each of the dissociation reactions shown above, there is a separate
acid dissociation constant, called
Ka1,
Ka2, and
Ka3 given at 25°C. Associated with these three dissociation constants are corresponding p
Ka1=2.12 , p
Ka2=7.21 , and p
Ka3=12.67 values at 25°C. Even though all three hydrogen (H ) atoms are equivalent on an orthophosphoric acid molecule, the successive
Ka values differ since it is energetically less favorable to lose another H+ if one (or more) has already been lost and the molecule/ion is more negatively charged.
Because the triprotic dissociation of orthophosphoric acid, the fact that its
conjugate bases (the phosphates mentioned above) cover a wide pH range, and because phosphoric acid/phosphate solutions are generally non-toxic, mixtures of these types of phosphates are often used as
buffering agents or to make buffer solutions, where the desired pH depends on the proportions of the phosphates in the mixtures. Similarly, the non-toxic, anion salts of triprotic
organic compound citric acid are also often used to make buffers. Phosphates are found pervasively in biology, especially in the compounds derived from phosphorylated
sugars, such as
DNA and RNA and
adenosine triphosphate (ATP). There is a separate article on
phosphate as an anion or its salts.
Upon heating orthophosphoric acid, condensation of the phosphoric units can be induced by driving off the water formed from condensation. When one molecule of water has been removed for each two molecules of phosphoric acid, the result is
pyrophosphoric acid (H4P2O7). When an average of one molecule of water per phosphoric unit has been driven off, the resulting substance is a glassy solid having an empirical formula of
HPO3 and is called
metaphosphoric acid. phosphoric acid. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-05 Metaphosphoric acid is a singly anhydrous version of orthophosphoic acid and is sometimes used as a water- or moisture-absorbing reagent. Further
dehydration is very difficult and can only be accomplished by means of an extremely strong desiccant (and not by heating alone). It produces
phosphoric anhydride which has an empirical formula P2O5, although an actual molecule has a chemical formula of P4O10. Phosphoric anhydride is a solid which is very strongly moisture-aborbing and is used as a desiccant.
Phosphoric acid as a chemical reagent
Pure 75-85% aqueous solutions (the most common) are clear, colourless, odourless, non-
Volatility (chemistry), rather viscous, syrupy liquids, but still pourable. Phosphoric acid is very commonly used as an aqueous solution of 85% phosphoric acid or H3PO4. Because it is a concentrated acid, an 85% solution can be
corrosive, although not toxic when diluted. Because of the high percentage of phosphoric acid in this reagent, at least some of the orthophosphoric acid is condensed into polyphosphoric acids in a temperature-dependent
chemical equilibrium, but for the sake of labeling and simplicity, the 85% represents H3PO4 as if it were all orthophosphoric acid. Other percentages are possible too, even above 100%, where the phosphoric acids and water would be in an unspecified equilibrium, but the overall elemental mole (unit) content would be considered specified. When aqueous solutions of phosphoric acid and/or phosphate are dilute, they are in or will reach an equilibrium after a while where practically all the phosphoric/phosphate units are in the ortho- form.
Preparation of hydrogen halides
Phosphoric acid reacts with halides to form the corresponding hydrogen halide gas (steamy fumes are observed on warming the reaction mixture). This is a common practice for the laboratory preparation of hydrogen halides.
3NaCl(s) + H3PO4(l) → NaH2PO4(s) + HCl(g)
3NaBr(s) + H3PO4(l) → NaH2PO4(s) + HBr(g)
3NaI(s) + H3PO4(l) → NaH2PO4(s) + HI(g)
Rust removal
Phosphoric acid may be used by direct application to rusted iron, steel tools or surfaces to convert iron(III) oxide (rust) to a water soluble
phosphate compound. It is usually available as a greenish liquid, suitable for dipping (acid bath), but is more generally used as a component in a gel, commonly called
naval jelly. As a thick gel, it may be applied to sloping, vertical, or even overhead surfaces. Care must be taken to avoid acid burns of the skin and especially the eyes, but the residue is easily diluted with water. When sufficiently diluted it can even be nutritious to plant life, containing the essential nutrients phosphorus and iron. It is sometimes sold under other names, such as "rust remover" or "rust killer". It should not be directly introduced into surface water such as creeks or into drains, however. After treatment, the reddish-brown iron oxide will be converted to a black iron phosphate compound coating that may be scrubbed off. Multiple applications of phosphoric acid may be required to remove all rust. The resultant black compound can provide further corrosion resistance (such protection is somewhat provided by the superficially similar
Parkerize and bluing (steel) electrochemical conversion coating processes.) After application and removal of rust using phosphoric acid compounds, the metal should be oiled (if to be used bare, as in a tool) or appropriately painted, most durably by using a multiple coat process of primer, intermediate, and finish coats.
Processed food use
Food grade phosphoric acid is used to acidify foods and beverages such as various
colas, but not without controversy as to its health effects. It provides a tangy taste, and being a mass-produced chemical, is available cheaply and in large quantities. The low cost and bulk availability is unlike more expensive natural seasonings that give comparable flavors, such as
ginger for tangyness, or
citric acid for sourness, obtainable from
lemons and
Lime (fruit). (However most citric acid in the food industry is not extracted from citrus fruit, but fermented by
Aspergillus niger mold from scrap
molasses, waste starch
hydrolysis and phosphoric acid.) It is labeled as E number
E338.
Biological effects on bone calcium
Phosphoric acid, used in many soft drinks (primarily cola), has been linked to lower bone density in epidemiological studies. For example a study Tucker et al. Am. J Clin. Nut. Oct 2006. Colas, but not other carbonated beverages, are associated with low bone mineral density in older women: The Framingham Osteoporosis Study. using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry rather than a questionnaire about breakage, provides reasonable evidence to support the theory that drinking cola results in lower bone density. This study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. A total of 1672 women and 1148 men were studied between 1996 and 2001. Dietary information was collected using a food frequency questionnaire that had specific questions about the number of servings of cola and other carbonated beverages and that also made a differentiation between regular, caffeine-free, and diet drinks. The paper finds statistically significant evidence to show that women who consume cola daily have lower bone density. Total phosphorus intake was not significantly higher in daily cola consumers than in nonconsumers; however, the calcium-to-phosphorus ratios were lower. The study also suggests that further research is needed to confirm the findings.
On the other hand, a study funded by Pepsi suggests that low intake of phosphorus leads to lower bone density. The study does not examine the effect of phosphoric acid, which binds with magnesium and calcium in the digestive tract to form salts that are not absorbed, but rather, it studies general phosphorus intake.Elmståhl S, Gullberg B, Janzon L, et al. Increased incidence of fractures in middle-aged and elderly men with low intakes of phosphorus and zinc. Osteoporos Int 1998;8:333–40.
However, a well-controlled clinical study by Heaney and Rafferty using calcium-balance methods found no impact of carbonated soft drinks containing phoshporic acid on calcium excretion.Robert P Heaney and Karen Rafferty, Carbonated beverages and urinary calcium excretion, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 74, No. 3, 343-347, September 2001 The study compared the impact of water, milk and various soft drinks (two with caffeine and two without; two with phosphoric acid and two with citric acid) on the calcium balance of 20- to 40-year-old women who customarily consumed ~3 or more cups (680 ml) of a carbonated soft drink per day. They found that, relative to water, only milk and the two caffeine-containing soft drinks increased urinary calcium, and that the calcium loss associated with the caffeinated soft drink consumption was about equal to that previously found for caffeine alone. Phosphoric acid without caffeine had no impact on urine calcium, nor did it augment the urinary calcium loss related to caffeine. Because studies have shown that the effect of caffeine is compensated for by reduced calcium losses later in the day Barger-Lux MJ, Heaney RP, Stegman MR., Effects of moderate caffeine intake on the calcium economy of premenopausal women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 52:722–725, Heaney and Rafferty concluded that the net effect of carbonated beverages – including those with caffeine and phosphoric acid -- is negligible and that the skeletal effects of carbonated soft drink consumption are likely due primarily to milk displacement.
Other chemicals such as
caffeine (also a significant component of popular common cola drinks) were also suspected as possible contributors to low bone density, due to the known effect of caffeine on
calciuria. One other study, comprised of 30 women over the course of a week suggests that phosphoric acid in colas has no such effect, and postulates that caffeine has only a temporary effect which is later reversed. The authors of this study conclude that the skeletal effects of carbonated beverage consumption are likely due primarily to milk displacement.Robert P Heaney and Karen Rafferty, Carbonated beverages and urinary calcium excretion, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 74, No. 3, 343-347, September 2001 (Another possible
confounding factor may be an association between high soft drink consumption and sedentary lifestyle.)
Medical use
Phosphoric acid is used in
dentistry and
orthodontics as an etching solution, to clean and roughen the surfaces of teeth where dental appliances or fillings will be placed.Phosphoric acid is also an ingredient in over the counter anti-nausea medications which also contain high levels of sugar (glucose and fructose). It should not be used by diabetics without consultation with a doctor. Phosphoric acid is also used as a catalyst in the synthesis of aspirin because it provides a larger number of hydrogen ions with less contamination when compared to hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid.Abdullah Rathur
Preparation of phosphoric acid
Phosphoric acid can be prepared by two routes - the Thermal Process and the Wet Process.
Thermal phosphoric acid:This very pure phosphoric acid is obtained by burning elemental phosphorus to produce
phosphorus pentoxide and dissolving the product in dilute phosphoric acid. This produces a very pure phosphoric acid, since most impurities present in the rock have been removed when extracting Phosphorus from the rock in a furnace. The end result is food grade, thermal phosphoric acid; however, for critical applications additional processing to remove arsenic compounds may be needed.
Wet phosphoric acid:Wet process phosphoric acid is prepared by adding
sulfuric acid to calcium phosphate rock.
The simplified reaction is:
3 H2SO4 + Ca3(PO4)2 + 6 H2O ↔ 2 H3PO4 + 3 CaSO4.2H2O + 6 H2O
Wet process acid can be purified by removing fluorine to produce animal grade phosphoric acid or by solvent extraction and arsenic removal to produce food grade phosphoric acid.
Other applications
It is used as the
electrolyte in phosphoric-acid fuel cells. It is also used as an external standard for phosphorus-31
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).
Phosphoric acid is used as a cleaner by construction trades to remove mineral deposits, cementitious smears, and hard water stains. It is also used as an ingredient in some household cleaners aimed at similar cleaning tasks.
Hot phosphoric acid is used in microfabrication to etch
silicon nitride (Si3N4). It is highly selective in etching Si3N4 instead of SiO2, silicon dioxide.
Phosphoric acid is used as a flux (metallurgy) by hobbyists (such as model railroaders) as an aid to soldering.
Phosphoric acid is also used in
hydroponics pH solutions to lower the pH of nutrient solutions. While other types of acids can be used, phosphorus is a nutrient used by plants, especially during flowering, making phosphoric acid particularly desirable. General Hydroponics pH Down liquid solution contains phosphoric acid in addition to citric acid and ammonium bisulfate with buffers to maintain a stable pH in the nutrient reservoir.
Phosphoric acid is used as a pH adjuster in cosmetics and skin care products.
Phosphoric acid is used as a chemical oxidizing agent for activated carbon production.
References
External links
- International Chemical Safety Card 1008
- National Pollutant Inventory - Phosphoric acid fact sheet
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
- Excel spreadsheet containing phosphoric acid titration curve, distribution diagram and buffer pH calculation
- General Hydroponics Liquid pH Down MSDS fact sheet
{{Chembox new| Name = Phosphoric acid| ImageFile = Phosphoric-acid-2D-dimensions.png| ImageName = Phosphoric acid| ImageFile1 = Phosphoric-acid-3D-vdW.png| ImageName1 = Phosphoric acid| OtherNames = Orthophosphoric acid| Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers| CASNo = 7664-38-2 -->
| Section2 = {{Chembox Properties| Formula = H3PO4| MolarMass = 98.0| Appearance = white solid or
colourless, viscous liquid (>42°C)| Density = 1.685 g/ml (liquid)| MeltingPt = 42.35 °C, 107.6°F, 567.27°R| BoilingPt = 158 °C, 415.4°F, 875.1°R
decomp.| pKa = 2.12, 7.21, 12.67| Viscosity = 85% aqueous solution
?
Poise|? -->
| Section7 = {{Chembox Hazards| EUClass = Corrosive(
C)| RPhrases = | SPhrases = , , -->
| Section8 = {{Chembox Related| OtherAnions = Nitric acid
Arsenic acid
[Trisodium phosphate
[Phosphorous acidPyrophosphoric acidTripolyphosphoric acidHypophosphoric acid
Perphosphoric acid
Permonophosphoric acid -->
-->
Phosphoric acid, also known as
orthophosphoric acid or
phosphoric(V) acid, is a
mineral acid having the
chemical formula Hydrogen3
PhosphorusOxygen4. Alternatively, orthophosphoric
acid molecules can combine with themselves to form a variety of compounds referred to as
phosphoric acids in a more general way. The term "phosphoric acid" can also refer to a
chemical or
reagent consisting of phosphoric acids, usually mostly orthophosphoric acid.
Orthophosphoric acid chemistry
Pure anhydrous phosphoric acid is a white solid that melts at 42.35 °C to form a colorless, viscous liquid.
Most people and even chemists simply refer to orthophosphoric acid as "phosphoric acid", which is the IUPAC name for this compound. The prefix
ortho- usually is used when one wants to distinguish it from other phosphoric acids called polyphosphoric acids. Orthophosphoric acid is a non-
toxic,
inorganic, rather weak triprotic
acid which, when pure, is a solid at room temperature and
pressure. The
chemical structure of orthophosphoric acid is shown above in the data table. Orthophosphoric acid is a very
Chemical polarity molecule, therefore it is highly soluble in water. The oxidation state of phosphorus (P) in ortho- and other phosphoric acids is +5; the oxidation state of all the oxygens (O) is -2 and all the
hydrogens (H) is +1. Triprotic means that an orthophosphoric acid molecule can dissociate up to three times, giving up an H+ each time, which typically combines with a Water (molecule), H2O, as shown in these
chemical reaction:
H3PO4(s) + H2O(l) H3O+(aq) + H2PO4–(aq)
Ka1= 7.5×10−3
H2PO4–(aq)+ H2O(l) H3O+(aq) + HPO42–(aq)
Ka2= 6.2×10−8
HPO42–(aq)+ H2O(l) H3O+(aq) + PO43–(aq)
Ka3= 2.14×10−13
The
anion after the first dissociation, H2PO4–, is the
dihydrogen phosphate anion. The anion after the second dissociation, HPO42–, is the
hydrogen phosphate anion. The anion after the third dissociation, PO43–, is the
phosphate or
orthophosphate anion. For each of the dissociation reactions shown above, there is a separate acid dissociation constant, called
Ka1,
Ka2, and
Ka3 given at 25°C. Associated with these three dissociation constants are corresponding p
Ka1=2.12 , p
Ka2=7.21 , and p
Ka3=12.67 values at 25°C. Even though all three
hydrogen (H ) atoms are equivalent on an orthophosphoric acid molecule, the successive
Ka values differ since it is energetically less favorable to lose another H+ if one (or more) has already been lost and the molecule/ion is more negatively charged.
Because the triprotic dissociation of orthophosphoric acid, the fact that its conjugate bases (the phosphates mentioned above) cover a wide
pH range, and because phosphoric acid/phosphate
solutions are generally non-toxic, mixtures of these types of phosphates are often used as buffering agents or to make buffer solutions, where the desired pH depends on the proportions of the phosphates in the mixtures. Similarly, the non-toxic,
anion salts of triprotic
organic compound citric acid are also often used to make buffers. Phosphates are found pervasively in biology, especially in the compounds derived from phosphorylated sugars, such as DNA and
RNA and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). There is a separate article on phosphate as an anion or its salts.
Upon heating orthophosphoric acid, condensation of the phosphoric units can be induced by driving off the water formed from condensation. When one molecule of water has been removed for each two molecules of phosphoric acid, the result is
pyrophosphoric acid (H4P2O7). When an average of one molecule of water per phosphoric unit has been driven off, the resulting substance is a glassy solid having an empirical formula of
HPO3 and is called
metaphosphoric acid. phosphoric acid. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-05 Metaphosphoric acid is a singly anhydrous version of orthophosphoic acid and is sometimes used as a water- or moisture-absorbing reagent. Further dehydration is very difficult and can only be accomplished by means of an extremely strong
desiccant (and not by heating alone). It produces
phosphoric anhydride which has an empirical formula P2O5, although an actual molecule has a chemical formula of P4O10. Phosphoric anhydride is a solid which is very strongly moisture-aborbing and is used as a desiccant.
Phosphoric acid as a chemical reagent
Pure 75-85%
aqueous solutions (the most common) are clear, colourless, odourless, non-Volatility (chemistry), rather viscous, syrupy
liquids, but still pourable. Phosphoric acid is very commonly used as an aqueous solution of 85% phosphoric acid or H3PO4. Because it is a concentrated acid, an 85% solution can be corrosive, although not toxic when diluted. Because of the high percentage of phosphoric acid in this reagent, at least some of the orthophosphoric acid is condensed into polyphosphoric acids in a temperature-dependent
chemical equilibrium, but for the sake of labeling and simplicity, the 85% represents H3PO4 as if it were all orthophosphoric acid. Other percentages are possible too, even above 100%, where the phosphoric acids and water would be in an unspecified equilibrium, but the overall elemental mole (unit) content would be considered specified. When aqueous solutions of phosphoric acid and/or phosphate are dilute, they are in or will reach an equilibrium after a while where practically all the phosphoric/phosphate units are in the ortho- form.
Preparation of hydrogen halides
Phosphoric acid reacts with halides to form the corresponding hydrogen halide gas (steamy fumes are observed on warming the reaction mixture). This is a common practice for the laboratory preparation of hydrogen halides.
3NaCl(s) + H3PO4(l) → NaH2PO4(s) + HCl(g)
3NaBr(s) + H3PO4(l) → NaH2PO4(s) + HBr(g)
3NaI(s) + H3PO4(l) → NaH2PO4(s) + HI(g)
Rust removal
Phosphoric acid may be used by direct application to rusted iron, steel tools or surfaces to convert iron(III) oxide (rust) to a water soluble
phosphate compound. It is usually available as a greenish liquid, suitable for dipping (acid bath), but is more generally used as a component in a gel, commonly called
naval jelly. As a thick gel, it may be applied to sloping, vertical, or even overhead surfaces. Care must be taken to avoid acid burns of the skin and especially the eyes, but the residue is easily diluted with water. When sufficiently diluted it can even be nutritious to plant life, containing the essential nutrients phosphorus and iron. It is sometimes sold under other names, such as "rust remover" or "rust killer". It should not be directly introduced into surface water such as creeks or into drains, however. After treatment, the reddish-brown iron oxide will be converted to a black
iron phosphate compound coating that may be scrubbed off. Multiple applications of phosphoric acid may be required to remove all rust. The resultant black compound can provide further corrosion resistance (such protection is somewhat provided by the superficially similar Parkerize and bluing (steel) electrochemical conversion coating processes.) After application and removal of rust using phosphoric acid compounds, the metal should be oiled (if to be used bare, as in a tool) or appropriately painted, most durably by using a multiple coat process of primer, intermediate, and finish coats.
Processed food use
Food grade phosphoric acid is used to acidify foods and beverages such as various
colas, but not without controversy as to its health effects. It provides a tangy taste, and being a mass-produced chemical, is available cheaply and in large quantities. The low cost and bulk availability is unlike more expensive natural seasonings that give comparable flavors, such as ginger for tangyness, or citric acid for sourness, obtainable from lemons and
Lime (fruit). (However most citric acid in the food industry is not extracted from citrus fruit, but fermented by
Aspergillus niger mold from scrap molasses, waste starch hydrolysis and phosphoric acid.) It is labeled as E number
E338.
Biological effects on bone calcium
Phosphoric acid, used in many soft drinks (primarily cola), has been linked to lower bone density in epidemiological studies. For example a study Tucker et al. Am. J Clin. Nut. Oct 2006. Colas, but not other carbonated beverages, are associated with low bone mineral density in older women: The Framingham Osteoporosis Study. using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry rather than a questionnaire about breakage, provides reasonable evidence to support the theory that drinking cola results in lower bone density. This study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. A total of 1672 women and 1148 men were studied between 1996 and 2001. Dietary information was collected using a food frequency questionnaire that had specific questions about the number of servings of cola and other carbonated beverages and that also made a differentiation between regular, caffeine-free, and diet drinks. The paper finds statistically significant evidence to show that women who consume cola daily have lower bone density. Total phosphorus intake was not significantly higher in daily cola consumers than in nonconsumers; however, the calcium-to-phosphorus ratios were lower. The study also suggests that further research is needed to confirm the findings.
On the other hand, a study funded by Pepsi suggests that low intake of phosphorus leads to lower bone density. The study does not examine the effect of phosphoric acid, which binds with magnesium and calcium in the digestive tract to form salts that are not absorbed, but rather, it studies general phosphorus intake.Elmståhl S, Gullberg B, Janzon L, et al. Increased incidence of fractures in middle-aged and elderly men with low intakes of phosphorus and zinc. Osteoporos Int 1998;8:333–40.
However, a well-controlled clinical study by Heaney and Rafferty using calcium-balance methods found no impact of carbonated soft drinks containing phoshporic acid on calcium excretion.Robert P Heaney and Karen Rafferty, Carbonated beverages and urinary calcium excretion, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 74, No. 3, 343-347, September 2001 The study compared the impact of water, milk and various soft drinks (two with caffeine and two without; two with phosphoric acid and two with citric acid) on the calcium balance of 20- to 40-year-old women who customarily consumed ~3 or more cups (680 ml) of a carbonated soft drink per day. They found that, relative to water, only milk and the two caffeine-containing soft drinks increased urinary calcium, and that the calcium loss associated with the caffeinated soft drink consumption was about equal to that previously found for caffeine alone. Phosphoric acid without caffeine had no impact on urine calcium, nor did it augment the urinary calcium loss related to caffeine. Because studies have shown that the effect of caffeine is compensated for by reduced calcium losses later in the day Barger-Lux MJ, Heaney RP, Stegman MR., Effects of moderate caffeine intake on the calcium economy of premenopausal women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 52:722–725, Heaney and Rafferty concluded that the net effect of carbonated beverages – including those with caffeine and phosphoric acid -- is negligible and that the skeletal effects of carbonated soft drink consumption are likely due primarily to milk displacement.
Other chemicals such as
caffeine (also a significant component of popular common cola drinks) were also suspected as possible contributors to low bone density, due to the known effect of caffeine on
calciuria. One other study, comprised of 30 women over the course of a week suggests that phosphoric acid in colas has no such effect, and postulates that caffeine has only a temporary effect which is later reversed. The authors of this study conclude that the skeletal effects of carbonated beverage consumption are likely due primarily to milk displacement.Robert P Heaney and Karen Rafferty, Carbonated beverages and urinary calcium excretion, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 74, No. 3, 343-347, September 2001 (Another possible
confounding factor may be an association between high soft drink consumption and sedentary lifestyle.)
Medical use
Phosphoric acid is used in dentistry and orthodontics as an etching solution, to clean and roughen the surfaces of teeth where dental appliances or fillings will be placed.Phosphoric acid is also an ingredient in over the counter anti-nausea medications which also contain high levels of
sugar (
glucose and fructose). It should not be used by diabetics without consultation with a doctor. Phosphoric acid is also used as a catalyst in the synthesis of aspirin because it provides a larger number of hydrogen ions with less contamination when compared to hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid.Abdullah Rathur
Preparation of phosphoric acid
Phosphoric acid can be prepared by two routes - the Thermal Process and the Wet Process.
Thermal phosphoric acid:This very pure phosphoric acid is obtained by burning elemental phosphorus to produce phosphorus pentoxide and dissolving the product in dilute phosphoric acid. This produces a very pure phosphoric acid, since most impurities present in the rock have been removed when extracting Phosphorus from the rock in a furnace. The end result is food grade, thermal phosphoric acid; however, for critical applications additional processing to remove arsenic compounds may be needed.
Wet phosphoric acid:Wet process phosphoric acid is prepared by adding
sulfuric acid to calcium phosphate rock.
The simplified reaction is:
3 H2SO4 + Ca3(PO4)2 + 6 H2O ↔ 2 H3PO4 + 3 CaSO4.2H2O + 6 H2O
Wet process acid can be purified by removing fluorine to produce animal grade phosphoric acid or by solvent extraction and arsenic removal to produce food grade phosphoric acid.
Other applications
It is used as the electrolyte in
phosphoric-acid fuel cells. It is also used as an external standard for phosphorus-31
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).
Phosphoric acid is used as a cleaner by construction trades to remove mineral deposits, cementitious smears, and hard water stains. It is also used as an ingredient in some household cleaners aimed at similar cleaning tasks.
Hot phosphoric acid is used in microfabrication to etch
silicon nitride (Si3N4). It is highly selective in etching Si3N4 instead of SiO2, silicon dioxide.
Phosphoric acid is used as a
flux (metallurgy) by hobbyists (such as model railroaders) as an aid to
soldering.
Phosphoric acid is also used in
hydroponics pH solutions to lower the pH of nutrient solutions. While other types of acids can be used, phosphorus is a nutrient used by plants, especially during flowering, making phosphoric acid particularly desirable. General Hydroponics pH Down liquid solution contains phosphoric acid in addition to citric acid and ammonium bisulfate with buffers to maintain a stable pH in the nutrient reservoir.
Phosphoric acid is used as a pH adjuster in cosmetics and skin care products.
Phosphoric acid is used as a chemical oxidizing agent for activated carbon production.
References
External links
- International Chemical Safety Card 1008
- National Pollutant Inventory - Phosphoric acid fact sheet
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
- Excel spreadsheet containing phosphoric acid titration curve, distribution diagram and buffer pH calculation
- General Hydroponics Liquid pH Down MSDS fact sheet
Phosphoric acid
Phosphoric acid (E338) Phosphoric acid is the source of phosphorus in most cola drinks. Phosphorus is a major constituent of all plant and animal cells and is present in all ...
Phosphoric acid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Phosphoric acid, also known as orthophosphoric acid or phosphoric(V) acid, is a mineral (inorganic) acid having the chemical formula H 3 P O 4. By contrast, orthophosphoric acid ...
PHOSPHORIC ACID
1. Product Identification Synonyms: Ortho-phosphoric acid; white phosphoric acid CAS No.: 7664-38-2 Molecular Weight: 98.00
Chemical Safety Data: Phosphoric acid
Chemical Safety Data: Phosphoric acid ... Common synonyms: Orthophosphoric acid: Formula: H 3 PO 4: Physical properties: Form: colourless liquid, typically supplied at a ...
Safety (MSDS) data for phosphoric acid
Safety (MSDS) data for phosphoric acid ... Glossary of terms on this data sheet. The information on this web page is provided to help you to work safely, but it is intended to be ...
PHOSPHORIC ACID, H
Salts containing the anion HPO 4 G are weakly basic. The tendency of this ion to hydrolyse is greater than its tendency to dissociate. HPO 4 2 G (aq) øõ H + (aq) + PO 4 3 G (aq ...
PHOSPHORIC ACID
Links Other web sites specific to this chemical: CalEPA Air Resources Board Toxic Air Contaminant Summary; EPA Integrated Risk Information System Report
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Microsoft Word - Soft drinks and Phosphoric Acid by Juliet Gray 280205.doc
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Phosphoric Acid Distributor , Phosphoric Acid DISTRIBUTOR, BUY Phosphoric Acid NOW ... Tradeasia International Pte Ltd was established in 2000 as chemicals trading company. Over ...
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