What is Phosphate?

   Phosphate is the name given to the large series of chemical compounds which have as part of their formula a phosphate component. Of all the phosphate compounds, the most common are the ammonium, calcium and sodium salts of phosphoric acid. Any phosphate has PO₄ in its formula. The most familiar phosphate compounds are inorganic and are used in large quantities in many industries. For example, diammonium phosphate is used as a fireproofing agent for textiles. Monoammonium phosphate is used in baking powders. Monocalcium phosphate is used as a dietary supplement in animal feeds, and the various sodium phosphates are used as laxatives, as buffering agents, and in detergent mixtures.