phosphate
(fos′fāt″)
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[phosph(orus) + -ate]
Any salt of phosphoric acid containing the radical PO4. Phosphates are important in the maintenance of the acid-base balance of the blood, the principal ones being monosodium and disodium phosphate. The former is acid, the latter alkaline. In the blood, because of their low concentration, they exert a minor buffering action.There's more to see -- the rest of this topic is available only to subscribers.
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