Hypophosphorous acid

Hydroxy-λ5-phosphanoneOxo-λ5-phosphanolOxo-λ5-phosphinous acid1.22 g/cm3 (50 wt% aq. solution)Hypophosphorous acid (HPA), or phosphinic acid, is a phosphorus oxyacid and a powerful reducing agent with molecular formula H3PO2. It is a colorless low-melting compound, which is soluble in water, dioxane, and alcohols. The formula for this acid is generally written H3PO2, but a more descriptive presentation is HOP(O)H2, which highlights its monoprotic character. Salts derived from this acid are called hypophosphites. Hypophosphorous acid (HPA), or phosphinic acid, is a phosphorus oxyacid and a powerful reducing agent with molecular formula H3PO2. It is a colorless low-melting compound, which is soluble in water, dioxane, and alcohols. The formula for this acid is generally written H3PO2, but a more descriptive presentation is HOP(O)H2, which highlights its monoprotic character. Salts derived from this acid are called hypophosphites. HOP(O)H2 exists in equilibrium with the minor tautomer HP(OH)2. Sometimes the minor tautomer is called hypophosphorous acid and the major tautomer is called phosphinic acid. Hypophosphorous acid was first prepared in 1816 by the French chemist Pierre Louis Dulong (1785–1838). The acid is prepared industrially via a two step process: Firstly, hypophosphite salts of the alkali and alkaline earth metals result from the reaction of white phosphorus with hot aqueous solution of the appropriate hydroxide, e.g. Ca(OH)2.