Dicalcium phosphate

Dicalcium phosphate is a chemical compound. Its chemical formula is CaHPO₄. It is a salt of calcium and monohydrogen phosphate.

The common name dicalcium phosphate refers to how the calcium atom is dibasic: it replaces two hydrogen atoms from phosphoric acid. It does not refer to the number of calcium atoms.

Properties

Dicalcium phosphate is a white solid. It does not dissolve in water. It can be thought of as phosphoric acid where two of the hydrogen ions are replaced with calcium ions.

Preparation

It can be made by reacting phosphoric acid with calcium hydroxide. It can also be made by reacting sulfuric acid with a certain amount of tricalcium phosphate.

Uses

It is used in fertilizers. It is also used in vitamin tablets. It is used to make sure chickens get calcium.

Related pages

• Monocalcium phosphate
• Tricalcium phosphate