Fosforat

Fosforat, known in English as phosphate, refers to the phosphate group and its derivatives, including the phosphate ion PO4^3−. In Dutch usage, fosforat covers salts and esters of phosphoric acid (H3PO4). Phosphates occur widely in nature, notably in minerals such as apatite, and phosphorus is an essential nutrient for living organisms, forming part of DNA, RNA, and energy molecules such as ATP.

Chemically, phosphoric acid is a triprotic acid with pKa values about 2.15, 7.20, and 12.35. In water, phosphate exists as H3PO4, H2PO4−, HPO4^2−, and PO4^3− depending on pH. The orthophosphate ion PO4^3− is the fully deprotonated form; polyphosphates and phosphate esters are also common, including DNA/RNA backbones and various industrial polymers.

Phosphate rock is mined and processed to produce phosphoric acid, most commonly by a wet process using sulfuric acid. The resulting phosphoric acid is used to manufacture fertilizers such as single superphosphate, triple superphosphate (TSP), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), and diammonium phosphate (DAP). Phosphates are also used as food additives and in detergents, water treatment, and other industrial applications.

Environmentally, phosphate runoff can contribute to eutrophication and algal blooms, leading to regulatory controls on phosphate usage in agriculture and consumer products. Safety-wise, phosphate salts are generally of low acute toxicity, though concentrated acids and bases are corrosive, and excessive phosphate release can impact aquatic ecosystems.