Salts based formally on phosphorus(V) oxoacids and in particular salts of phosphoric(V) acid, H3PO4. A large number of polymeric phosphates also exist, containing P–O–P bridges. These are formed by heating the free acid and its salts under a variety of conditions; as well as linear polyphosphates, cyclic polyphosphates and cross-linked polyphosphates or ultraphosphates are known.
Geology and Earth Sciences
Rock or deposit made up largely of inorganic phosphate, commonly calcium phosphate (e.g. the minerals apatite, autunite, monazite, pyromorphite, torbernite, turquoise, vivianite, and wavellite).