Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Phosphonates are one of the three sources of phosphate intake in biological cells. [ citation needed ] The other two are inorganic phosphate and organophosphates. The naturally occurring phosphonate 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid was first identified in 1959 in plants and many animals, where it is localized in membranes.
Phosphates have low toxicity in the environment but cause nutrient pollution, a major water quality problem in many watersheds. [17] Phosphates in water cause eutrophication of algae which creates conditions favorable to formation of harmful algal blooms. These blooms prevent light and oxygen from getting into the water, leading to the death of ...
Many phosphates are soluble in water at standard temperature and pressure. The sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium, and ammonium phosphates are all water-soluble. Most other phosphates are only slightly soluble or are insoluble in water. As a rule, the hydrogen and dihydrogen phosphates are slightly more soluble than the corresponding phosphates.
In aqueous solutions (solutions of water), water gradually (over the course of hours) hydrolyzes polyphosphates into smaller phosphates and finally into ortho-phosphate, given enough water. Higher temperature or acidic conditions can speed up the hydrolysis reactions considerably.
The situation is confusing because of the similarity in name between phosphite and phosphate (a major plant nutrient and fertilizer ingredient), and controversial because phosphites have sometimes been advertised as fertilizers, even though they are converted to phosphate too slowly to serve as a plant's main phosphorus source.
Oxidation of phosphonites gives phosphonates: 2 P(OR) 2 R + O 2 → 2 OP(OR) 2 R. Phosphonites can function as ligands in homogeneous catalysis. [3] References
Phosphonates are esters of phosphonic acid and have the general formula RP(=O)(OR') 2. Phosphonates have many technical applications, a well-known member being glyphosate, better known as Roundup. With the formula (HO) 2 P(O)CH 2 NHCH 2 CO 2 H, this derivative of glycine is one of the most widely used herbicides.
Phosphonates are more difficult to hydrolyse than phosphates. [3] ... ATMP is used in water treatment as antiscalant [7]