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Phosphorous acid
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Phosphorous acid is the compound described by the formula H3PO3. It can be formulated as HP(O)(OH)2 and therefore contains phosphorus in oxidation state +3. It is one of the oxoacids of phosphorus, other important members being phosphoric acid (H3PO4) and hypophosphorous acid (H3PO2). Note that only the reduced phosphorus compounds are spelled with an "ous" ending. Other names for this acid are orthophosphorous acid and dihydroxyphosphine oxide.
HP(O)(OH)2 is the product of the hydrolysis of its acid anhydride, P4O6:
P4O6 + 6 H2O ? 4 HP(O)(OH)2
An analogous relationship connects H3PO4 and P4O10.
b>3PO3 is better described with the structural formula HP(O)(OH)2.
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Phosphorous acid is the compound described by the formula H3PO3. It can be formulated as HP(O)(OH)2 and therefore contains phosphorus in oxidation state +3. It is one of the oxoacids of phosphorus, other important members being phosphoric acid (H3PO4) and hypophosphorous acid (H3PO2). Note that only the reduced phosphorus compounds are spelled with an "ous" ending. Other names for this acid are orthophosphorous acid and dihydroxyphosphine oxide.
HP(O)(OH)2 is the product of the hydrolysis of its acid anhydride, P4O6:
P4O6 + 6 H2O ? 4 HP(O)(OH)2
An analogous relationship connects H3PO4 and P4O10.
Tautomerization
H3PO3 is better described with the structural formula HP(O)(OH)2. This species exists in equilibrium with a minor tautomer P(OH)3. (IUPAC recommendations, 2005, are that the latter is called phosphorous acid, whereas the dihydroxy form is called phosphonic acid.)
The P(OH)3 tautomer has recently,(2004), been stabilised as a ligand bonded to molybdenum. Many of the reduced phosphorus acids are subject to similarly complicated equilibria involving shifts of H between O and P.
Structure
In the solid state, HP(O)(OH)2 is tetrahedral with one shorter P=O bond of 148 pm and two longer P-O(H) bonds of 154 pm.
Preparation
Although commercially available, the acid is most commonly prepared by hydrolysis of phosphorus trichloride with water or steam:
PCl3 + 3 H2O ? HP(O)(OH)2 + 3 HCl
Potassium phosphite is a convenient precursor to phosphorous acid:
- K2HPO3 + 2 HCl ? 2 KCl + H3PO3
In practice aqueous potassium phosphite is treated with excess hydrochloric acid. By concentrating the solution and precipitations with alcohols, the pure acid can be separated from the salt.
Acid-base properties
Phosphorous acid is a diprotic acid, since the hydrogen bonded directly to the central phosphorus atom is not readily ionizable. Chemistry examinations often test students' appreciation of the fact that all three hydrogen atoms are not acidic under aqueous conditions, in contrast with phosphoric acid. HP(O)2(OH)- is a moderately strong acid.
HP(O)(OH)2 ? HP(O)2(OH)- + H+ pKa = 1.3
HP(O)2(OH)- ? HPO32- + H+ pKa = 6.7
The HP(O)2(OH)- species is called the hydrogenphosphite ion, and the HPO32- the phosphite ion.(Note that the IUPAC recommendations are dihydrogenphosphite and hydrogenphosphite respectively)
The IUPAC (mostly organic) name is phosphonic acid. This nomenclature is commonly reserved for substituted derivatives, that is, organic group bonded to phosphorus, not simply an ester. For example, (CH3)PO(OH)2 is "methylphosphonic acid", which may of course form "methylphosphonate" esters.
Both phosphorous acid and its deprotonated forms are good reducing agents, although not necessarily quick to react. They are oxidized to phosphoric acid or its salts. It reduces solutions of noble metal cations to the metals.
Uses
Conversion to phosphine
Phosphine PH3, being a flammable and toxic gas, is inconvenient to store. Fortunately this useful species is readily prepared by thermal decomposition of phosphorous acid, at 205 - 210 °C:
4 HP(O)(OH)2 ? PH3 + 3 H3PO4
In agriculture
A large quantity of phosphorous acid is used as phosphatic fertilizer. Pure phosphorous acid is also used for preparing phosphite salts, such as monopotassium phosphite or aluminum phosphonite. These salts, as well as aqueous solutions of pure phosphorous acid, have shown effectiveness in controlling a variety of microbial plant diseases—in particular, treatment using either trunk injection or foliar containing phosphorous acid salts is indicated in response to infections by phytophthora and pythium-type plant pathogens (both within class oomycetes, known as water molds), such as dieback/root rot and downy mildew. Anti-microbial products containing salts of phosphorous acid are marketed in Australia as 'Yates Anti-Rot'; and in the United States of America, for example, aluminum salts of phosphorous acid (known generically as 'Fosetyl-Al') are sold under the trade name 'Aliette'.
As a chemical reagent
Phosphorous acid is used in chemical reactions as a reducing agent that is somewhat less vigorous than the related hypophosphorous acid.
Other references
- Holleman, A. F.; Wiberg, E. “Inorganic Chemistry.” Academic Press: San Diego, 2001. ISBN 0-12-352651-5.
- D. E. C. Corbridge. “Phosphorus: An Outline of its Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Technology.” 5th ed. Elsevier: Amsterdam. ISBN 0-444-89307-5.
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