Phosphate

This is a residue of phosphoric acid, with an empirical formula PO₃^-4 and a molar mass of 94.973 g/mol. It consists of one central phosphorus atom surrounded by four oxygen atoms (tetrahedral arrangement). Biochemically, it is called inorganic phosphate and denoted as P_i. Phosphates are found in high-energy (macroergic) compounds such as ATP, ADP. During phosphorylation, when ATP is hydrolyzed to ADP, phosphate can be attached to other compounds, thus cell metabolism processes, activation of signal transduction cascades, substance transport, muscle work occur. Phosphate is a common name for phosphoric acid salts and esters.

Source | Glossary of Most Commonly Used Biomedical Terms and Concepts | Lithuanian University of Health Sciences | Academician Professor Antanas Praškevičius, Professor Laima Ivanovienė