Phosphoric acid, being tribasic, gives three types of phosphoric esters according to whether one, two or all of its acidic groups are esterified.
The esters and their salts include :(1) Glycerophosphoric acid. Derived from saturation of one of the primary alcoholic groups of glycerol with the residue of phosphoric acid. The most important salts of these esters are used in medicine as tonics, e.g. : (a) Calcium glycerophosphate. (b) Iron glycerophosphate. (c) Sodium glycerophosphate. (2) Inositolhexaphosphoric acid and inositolhexaphosphates. (3) Tributyl phosphate. Colourless, odourless liquid; used as a plasticiser. (4) Triphenyl phosphate. Colourless and odourless crystals; used for the manufacture of plastics (e.g., celluloid), for waterproofing paper, etc. (5) Tritolyl phosphate. Colourless or yellowish liquid; used as a plasticiser for cellulose products and synthetic resins, for the flotation of ores, etc. (6) Trixylyl phosphate. (7) Triguaiacyl phosphate. (8) Lactophosphates, e.g., calcium lactophosphate, whether or not chemically defined.
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