Ortofosfaattiset

Ortofosfaattiset refer to salts and esters of orthophosphoric acid, also known as phosphoric acid. Orthophosphoric acid has the chemical formula H₃PO₄. In aqueous solutions, phosphoric acid is a triprotic acid, meaning it can donate three protons, and in its deprotonated forms, it yields three types of anions: dihydrogen phosphate (H₂PO₄⁻), hydrogen phosphate (HPO₄²⁻), and phosphate (PO₄³⁻). Ortofosfaattiset refers to compounds containing these anions.

These phosphates play crucial roles in various biological and industrial processes. In biology, they are fundamental components of DNA and RNA, essential for energy transfer as adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and form the structural basis of bones and teeth through calcium phosphates. Industrially, phosphates are used as fertilizers, contributing essential phosphorus nutrients to plants, and in detergents as water softeners and cleaning agents. They are also utilized in food processing as emulsifiers, leavening agents, and preservatives. The speciation of orthophosphates in water depends heavily on pH, with dihydrogen phosphate being dominant in acidic conditions, hydrogen phosphate in neutral conditions, and phosphate in alkaline conditions.