5 results about "Hypophosphite" patented technology

The hypophosphite ion is H₂PO₂−, hypophosphorous acid minus one hydrogen ion. Hypophosphites are the compounds containing this ion, with phosphorus in oxidation state +1, or similar covalent ones. Two hydrogens are attached directly to the phosphorus atom. The IUPAC name for the same ion is phosphinate. This is virtually not used for hypophosphite ion itself, with both hydrogens remaining, but for substituted ions. For example, "dimethylphosphinate" ion would be (CH₃)₂PO₂−. Hypophosphites can be made by heating white phosphorus in warm aqueous alkali: P₄ + 3 OH− + 3 H₂O → 3 H₂PO₂− + PH₃ Hypophosphites are reducing agents: H₂PO₂− +3OH− → HPO₃2− + 2H₂O + 2e⁻ Hypophosphites are used in electroless nickel plating as the reducing agent to deposit for example Ni metal from Ni salts. The hypophosphite ion is thermodynamically unstable, and disproportionates on heating to phosphine gas and phosphate salts: 2 H₂PO₂− → PH₃ + HPO₄2−