Hypophosphoric acid

Hypophosphoric acid
Names
IUPAC name
Hypodiphosphoric acid
Other names
Diphosphoric acid
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
UNII
  • InChI=1S/H4O6P2/c1-7(2,3)8(4,5)6/h(H2,1,2,3)(H2,4,5,6)
    Key: TVZISJTYELEYPI-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • OP(O)(P(O)(O)=O)=O
Properties
H4P2O6
Molar mass 161.98 g/mol
Appearance White solid (dihydrate)
Melting point 54 °C (129 °F; 327 K)
Acidity (pKa) 2.2, 2.8, 7.3, 10.0[1]
Conjugate base Hypophosphate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Hypophosphoric acid is a mineral acid with the formula H4P2O6, with phosphorus in a formal oxidation state of +4. In the solid state it is present as the dihydrate, H4P2O6·2H2O. In hypophosphoric acid the phosphorus atoms are identical and joined directly with a P−P bond. Isohypophosphoric acid is a structural isomer of hypophosphoric acid in which one phosphorus has a hydrogen directedly bonded to it and that phosphorus atom is linked to the other one by an oxygen bridge to give a phosphorous acid/phosphoric acid mixed anhydride. The two phosphorus atoms are in the +3 and +5 oxidation states, respectively.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Greenwood was invoked but never defined (see the help page).