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Why is a Phosphate Functional Group Acidic?
Started by doitfortheppl
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the phosphoric acid, H3PO4 is one of the strongest acids that you should have memorized. It dissociates readily to give H2PO4-, and further dissociates to HPO4 (2-), and again to PO4 (3-).
The reason why a phosphate group is so acidic is because of the polarization of the molecule. Think about it, the phosphorus group is bonded to 4 oxygen molecules, all of which are highly electronegative. In case a hydrogen is bonded to a PO4 molecule such as HPO4 (2-) for example, the bond between the O and the H is easily cleaved because of the large polarity (O being more electronegative than H). so O ---- H is broken easily, yielding H+ ions in solution.
The reason why a phosphate group is so acidic is because of the polarization of the molecule. Think about it, the phosphorus group is bonded to 4 oxygen molecules, all of which are highly electronegative. In case a hydrogen is bonded to a PO4 molecule such as HPO4 (2-) for example, the bond between the O and the H is easily cleaved because of the large polarity (O being more electronegative than H). so O ---- H is broken easily, yielding H+ ions in solution.
In addition to polarity, resonance makes the phosphate stable enough to readily give up that H.
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oh yes. forgot about that, nice catch.
Good ol' CARDIO
Thanks guys!
its because metals and non metals tend to form basic salts , non-metals and non metals tend to form acidic salts
