Phosphonic acid

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tautomers of H3PO3:phosphonic acid (left)phosphorous acid (right)
Enlarge
Tautomers of H3PO3:
phosphonic acid (left)
phosphorous acid (right)
The general structure of an organic phosphonic acid
Enlarge
The general structure of an organic phosphonic acid

In inorganic chemistry, phosphonic acid is a phosphorus oxoacid with a formula of H3PO3, more commonly known as phosphorous acid. It exists in solution as two tautomers, the major one being HP(O)(OH)2 and the minor one P(OH)3. The former is sometimes termed phosphonic acid, with the latter designated as phosphorous acid. Sometimes confusingly, both these names are also used to refer to H3PO3 in general, i.e. both tautomers.

In organic chemistry, a phosphonic acid is a compound with the general formula RP(O)(OH)2.

An example of an organic phosphonic acid is Foscarnet.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links