Phosphoric acid is a formulation with uses in the food industry, in dentistry, homeopathy, and also serves as a component for making fertilizer. It is a ternary or orthophosphate compound that belongs to the oxoacids.
Contents
What is phosphoric acid
It is a formulation with uses in the food industry and in some food products like Coca Cola. Although its health properties are highly debated, and there is some controversy over its inclusion in foods.
It serves as a phosphorylated element for DNA and RNA but also for adenosine triphosphate or ATP. The properties of phosphoric acid are:
- Transparent with yellowish tones.
- Inorganic.
- Preservatives.
- Emulsifiers.
- Acidulant.
- Odorless.
- Molecular weight 98.00
To obtain it, rocks with calcium phosphate need to be treated. This involves adding sulfuric acid and manipulating the liquid mixture to extract calcium sulfate.
Another method is to heat the phosphorus vapors until they burn. The result is an oxide that can be treated with steam to obtain it.
Formulation
It has the code in the International Numbering System E-338, and the formula of phosphoric acid is H3PO4.
Avoid mixing it with water as the combination activates it.
In addition to being orthophosphoric, it is a triprotic acid, which means it has the property of dissociation up to a maximum of three times. Each time a proton is released into the water in the following chemical reactions:
H3PO4(s) + H2O(l) H3O+(aq) + H2PO4−(aq) Ka1= 7.25×10−3
H2PO4−(aq)+ H2O(l) H3O+(aq) + HPO42−(aq) Ka2= 6.31×10−8
HPO42−(aq)+ H2O(l) H3O+(aq) + PO43−(aq) Ka3= 3.98×10−13
Is orthophosphoric acid the same?
In some places and literature, it is referred to by the same name, so orthophosphoric acid is indeed the same as phosphoric acid, a chemical compound with the same properties and formulation.
Uses
- Remove metal rust.
- It is quite common to include it in carbonated drinks as an additive. Among these is Coca Cola.
- It is also used in dentistry, where it functions as an enamel conditioner due to its demineralizing properties. This feature helps products used in fillings to adhere to the natural tooth.
- It can also be used in the preparation of other chemicals, cleaning products, detergents, and plant fertilizers. By softening water, removing dissolved minerals, it prepares it for better final product performance. In other words, phosphoric acid as a fertilizer is produced by adding ammonia. This causes a reaction that produces monoammonium phosphate, a chemical used as a fertilizer with phosphorus and nitrogen.
- As a detergent.
Additionally, when mixed with various other elements, it is possible to produce asphalt. Road pavements may contain it along with petroleum, bitumen, and gravel or sand of different sizes.
Phosphoric Acid in Coca Cola
Since it has a syrupy appearance and no color or odor, it is a feasible medium to include in the beverage. It provides a stronger flavor, and to mitigate its acidity on the palate, sugar is added to the phosphoric acid in Coca Cola.
Sugary soft drinks based on phosphoric acid need to contain a large amount of sugars to mask the final acidity without losing flavor. Most soft drinks and carbonated beverages include it in their composition. So, keep this in mind if you want to maintain a healthy diet without additives.
For this purpose, it is listed on the ingredient label as E-338. It is a much easier name to mention but sometimes masks the chemical element as not everyone is familiar with the numbering.
Homeopathy
Indicated for people with weakness and emotional fatigue. In homeopathy for stress and insomnia there are remedies for states where strength seems to have abandoned us, and this is where phosphoric acid in homeopathy has its function. It is indicated for:
- Lack of concentration.
- Apathy.
- Few desires to do normal, everyday things.
- Memory problems.
- Fatigue after mental effort.
- To improve sleep in some people.
How to Take Phosphoric Acid in Homeopathy
You should follow the instructions that come with the purchased dilution. Each form of presentation may require a different daily dose, so follow the advice of the homeopath who recommended it.
Health Contraindications
Various studies advise against taking phosphoric acid as it causes low bone density. In small amounts, it can lead to weak bones with a risk of developing osteoporosis.
There are also indications that cola drinks could be related to a higher likelihood of forming kidney stones and suffering from kidney diseases.
On the other hand, the American organization “Center for Science in the Public Interest” indicates that the main contributors are foods rich in phosphoric acid like chicken, meat, eggs, or dairy products, which contain about 0.1 to 0.5% of the daily dose a person can take. In any case, it prevents the absorption of calcium in the bones. Along with refined sugar or fructose, it hinders absorption and causes deficiencies, including low iron leading to anemia.
In high concentrations, it can irritate the skin and mucous membranes of the human body.
Relationship with Phosphorus
It is composed of this metal with the symbol P and atomic number 15. The amount of phosphorus in phosphoric acid is 31.61%, 65.30% of potassium for health, and 3.09% hydrogen. The same applies to orthophosphoric acid.
Price
As it has a relatively low cost and its production is easy nowadays, it can be sold wholesale. The price of phosphoric acid is $2 to $5 per liter for domestic use. In the industry, the amounts are lower as the supplier provides it in large quantities.
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