Calcium hypophosphite has the molecular formula
of Ca(H2PO2)2 and the molecular weight of
170.0631 g/mol. This salt can be prepared by the
aqueous reaction of the carbonate or oxide with H3PO2:
CaO + 2H3PO2 Ca(H2PO2)2
The salt is soluble in water (20 g/100 ml at 20°C) so
that the solution must be evaporated to obtain crystals.
Ca(H2PO2)2 has the CAS number of 7789-79-9 and the
density of 1.59 g/cm3. It is composed of white square
monoclinic crystalswhich are water soluble. It is insoluble
in alcohol or ether.When heated to about 305°C, it disproportionates,
forming calcium phosphate and phosphine:
Ca(H2PO2)2 + heat CaHPO3 + PH3
white monoclinic, prismatic crystal(s) or granular powder(s); used as a corrosion inhibitor and in medicine [MER06] [HAW93]
Calcium hypophosphite is relatively soluble in water,
and when added to a solution of sodium hypophosphite,
forms a double salt. Crystals were obtained by
slow evaporation of the solution to form dodecahedra
with well-developed {110} faces. The crystal structure
of CaNa(H2PO2)3 belongs to the cubic system with space
group, P213, Z = 4 and a = 9.721. The structure
consists of two kinds of octahedral groups, one with
a calcium atom and the other with a sodium atom.
Each atom of the hypophosphite ions is coordinated to
each one of the calcium and sodium atoms to form the
octahedral. This structure is, in general, typical of the
salts of hypophosphorous acid.
Calcium hypophosphite is readily available commercially
since its main usage, both industrially and in
Research, has proven to be as a source of hypophosphite
anions to form other hypophosphites.
It is employed as dietary supplement. The product is used as a flame retardant and applied to chemical plating. Moreover, the product is used as a food additive and an animal nutrition agent, applied to the manufacture of pharmaceutical products, as well as antioxidant and analytical reagent.
As corrosion inhibitor; in nickel plating. Pharmaceutic aid (retards oxidation of ferrous salts).
Flammability and Explosibility
Highly flammable
