Phosphorus forms a number of oxyacids which differs in their structure and oxidation state of phosphorus. These are H3 PO2, H3PO3, H4P2O6, H3PO4 , (HPO3)
n, H4 P2O5, H4P2O7
. From these H3PO2, H3PO3
are reducing agents. H4P2O5
(pyrophosphoric acid) is dibasic acid.
( HPO3 )n is formed by dehydration of
H3PO4 at 316oC
.
Oxyacids of phosphorus
| Name |
Oxidation state of P and Basicity |
Structure

|
Hypophosphorous acid H3PO2
|
+1
Monobasic |
|
|
Phosphorous s acid H3PO3
|
+3
Dibasic |
|
Hypophosphoric acid H4P2O6
|
+4
Tetrabasic |
|
Orthophosphoric acid H3PO4
|
+5
Tribasic |
|
Metaphosphoric acid ( HPO3 )n
|
+5
Monobasic |
|
Pyrophospric acid
(Diphosphoric acid). H4P2O7
|
+5
Tetrabasic |
|
|