What Is Phosphoric Acid? - Definition & Uses
11 January 2023
Phosphoric acid, also known as orthophosphoric acid, is a mineral acid with the chemical formula H3PO4. It is a colorless, odorless liquid that is a weak acid. It is commonly used in the food and beverage industry as an acidity regulator, a flavoring agent, and a sequestrate. Moreover, the phosphoric acid supplied by one of the most distinguished Phosphoric Acid suppliers in Russia is used in fertilizers, dental hygiene products, and some types of cleaning agents.
Benefits of using phosphoric acid:
Phosphoric acid has a number of uses in industry and agriculture. Some of the benefits of using phosphoric acid include:
- It is used as a rust remover and metal etchant.
- It is used as an ingredient in fertilizers to provide plants with phosphorous, which is essential for growth and development.
- It is used in the food industry as a flavoring agent and a leavening agent in baking.
- It is used in the production of phosphoric salts and other phosphate compounds which are used in many industries like water treatment, detergents, and some pharmaceuticals.
- It can also be used as a pH adjuster in personal care and cleaning products.
Industrial Applications of Phosphoric Acid:
Phosphoric acid exported by one of the excellent Phosphoric Acid exporters in Russia has a wide range of industrial applications, some of the most important ones are:
- Fertilizers: Phosphoric acid is used to produce phosphates, which are key ingredients in fertilizers. These fertilizers provide plants with the phosphorous they need to grow and develop properly.
- Water treatment: Phosphoric acid is used to adjust the pH levels of water, which helps to remove impurities and makes the water safe to drink. It is also used to control the levels of bacteria and algae in the water.
- Food and Beverage industry: Phosphoric acid is used as a flavoring agent in soft drinks, giving them a tangy taste. It is also used as a preservative and an acidity regulator in various food items.
- Pharmaceuticals: Phosphoric acid and its derivatives are used as catalysts, solvents, and reagents in the production of various pharmaceuticals.
- Metal treatment: Phosphoric acid is used to remove rust and other impurities from metal surfaces, and it is also used as a pickling agent to prepare metal surfaces for painting or other treatments.
- Production of phosphate compounds: Phosphoric acid is used in the production of a wide range of phosphate compounds that have various applications in different fields, like cleaning agents, detergents, and ceramics.
- Leather Tanning: Phosphoric acid is used to tan animal hides and make them leather.
Physical properties of Phosphoric acid:
Phosphoric acid, also known as orthophosphoric acid, has the chemical formula H3PO4 and has the following physical properties:
- Appearance: Colorless, syrupy liquid.
- Odor: Odorless.
- PH: It is acidic with a pH of less than 7.
- Boiling point: 158 °C (316 °F)
- Freezing point: 42.35 °C (108.23 °F)
- Density: 1.832 g/cm3 (20 °C)
- Viscosity: High viscosity, due to its syrupy consistency
- Solubility: Soluble in water, alcohol, and ether.
Phosphoric acid is a tricrotic acid, meaning that it can donate three protons (H+) per molecule. It is a strong acid and has a high dissociation constant, making it a powerful dehydrating agent. It is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air and it is also a strong oxidizing agent. Additionally, it can exist in several forms depending on the concentration, such as orthophosphoric acid, metaphosphoric acid, and pyrophosphoric acid, each with different properties.
Chemical properties of Phosphoric acid:
Phosphoric acid has the chemical formula H3PO4, it is a tricrotic acid, meaning that it can donate three protons (H+) per molecule. The chemical properties of phosphoric acid include:
- Acidity: Phosphoric acid is a strong acid, with a high dissociation constant. It ionizes completely in water to form H+ and H2PO4- ions.
- Oxidation-reduction reactions: Phosphoric acid is a powerful oxidizing agent, it can accept electrons from other molecules, effectively reducing them.
- Hydrolysis: Phosphoric acid can react with water to form dihydrogen phosphate and hydrogen ions: H3PO4 + H2O -> H2PO4- + H3O+
- Dehydration: Phosphoric acid is a powerful dehydrating agent, it can remove water molecules from other compounds.
- Reactivity with metal: Phosphoric acid can react with certain metals, such as aluminum and zinc to form metal phosphates.
- Reactivity with organic compounds: Phosphoric acid can react with organic compounds, such as sugars, to form esters or other compounds.
- Reactivity with inorganic compounds: Phosphoric acid can react with inorganic compounds, such as calcium carbonate to form calcium phosphate.
Phosphoric acid is a versatile chemical that can undergo a wide range of chemical reactions, due to its acidity and ability to act as an oxidizing and dehydrating agent.
Use of Phosphoric acid by various industries:
Phosphoric acid is used by a variety of industries for a wide range of applications. Some of the most important uses of phosphoric acid manufactured and distributed by a reliable Phosphoric Acid distributor in Russia by different industries includes the following:
- Fertilizer industry: Phosphoric acid is used to produce phosphates, which are key ingredients in fertilizers. These fertilizers provide plants with the phosphorous they need to grow and develop properly.
- Food and Beverage industry: Phosphoric acid is used as a flavoring agent in soft drinks and other beverages, giving them a tangy taste. It is also used as a preservative and an acidity regulator in various food items.
- Pharmaceutical industry: Phosphoric acid and its derivatives are used as catalysts, solvents, and reagents in the production of various pharmaceuticals.
- Water treatment industry: Phosphoric acid is used to adjust the pH levels of water, which helps to remove impurities and makes the water safe to drink. It is also used to control the levels of bacteria and algae in the water.
- Metal treatment industry: Phosphoric acid is used to remove rust and other impurities from metal surfaces, and it is also used as a pickling agent to prepare metal surfaces for painting or other treatments.
- Detergent and cleaning products industry: Phosphoric acid is used to produce phosphates compounds which are key ingredients in many cleaning agents and detergents.
- Leather industry: Phosphoric acid is used to tan animal hides and make them leather.
- Ceramic industry: Phosphoric acid is used as a fluxing agent in ceramics manufacturing.
- Automotive industry: Phosphoric acid is used as an etching solution in the surface treatment of car parts.