Sodium hypophosphite

Sodium hypophosphite
One sodium cation and one hypophosphite anion
Ball-and-stick model of the component ions
Names
IUPAC name
Sodium phosphinate
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.028.791 Edit this at Wikidata
RTECS number
  • SZ5640000 (monohydrate)
UNII
  • InChI=1S/Na.H3O2P/c;1-3-2/h;3H2,(H,1,2)/q+1;/p-1 ☒N
    Key: SIGUVTURIMRFDD-UHFFFAOYSA-M ☒N
  • InChI=1/Na.H3O2P/c;1-3-2/h;3H2,(H,1,2)/q+1;/p-1
    Key: SIGUVTURIMRFDD-REWHXWOFAI
  • [O-][PH2]=O.[Na+]
Properties
NaPO2H2
Molar mass 87.98 g/mol (anhydrous)
105.99 g/mol (monohydrate)
Appearance white solid
Density 0.8 g/cm3 (monohydrate)
Melting point 310 °C (590 °F; 583 K) (monohydrate)
soluble
Solubility Ethanol, Acetic acid, Ethylene glycol, Propylene glycol[1]
Hazards
Flash point Non-flammable
Related compounds
Other anions
Sodium phosphite
Monosodium phosphate
Disodium phosphate
Trisodium phosphate
Other cations
Potassium hypophosphite
Related compounds
Hypophosphorous acid
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Sodium hypophosphite (NaPO2H2, also known as sodium phosphinate) is the sodium salt of hypophosphorous acid and is often encountered as the monohydrate, NaPO2H2·H2O. It is a solid at room temperature, appearing as odorless white crystals. It is soluble in water, and easily absorbs moisture from the air.

Sodium hypophosphite should be kept in a cool, dry place, isolated from oxidizing materials. It decomposes into phosphine which is irritating to the respiratory tract and disodium phosphate.

2 NaH2PO2 → PH3 + Na2HPO4
  1. ^ Guyon, Carole; Métay, Estelle; Popowycz, Florence; Lemaire, Marc (2015). "Synthetic applications of hypophosphite derivatives in reduction". Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry. 13 (29): 7879–7906. doi:10.1039/C5OB01032B. PMID 26083977.