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Dimagnesium phosphate

Dimagnesium phosphate is a compound with formula MgHPO<sub>4</sub>. It is a Mg<sup>2+</sup> salt of monohydrogen phosphate. The trihydrate is well known, occurring as the mineral newberyite.

It can be formed by reaction of stoichiometric quantities of magnesium oxide with phosphoric acid.

MgO + H<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> → MgHPO<sub>4</sub> + H<sub>2</sub>O

If monomagnesium phosphate is dissolved in water, it forms phosphoric acid and deposits a solid precipitate of dimagnesium phosphate trihydrate:

Mg(H<sub>2</sub>PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub> + 3 H<sub>2</sub>O → Mg(HPO<sub>4</sub>)<sup>.</sup>3H<sub>2</sub>O + H<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub>

The compound is used as a nutritional supplement, especially for infants and athletes. Its E number is E343.

See also

References