phosphonic acid
/fɒsˈfɒnɪk
/noun [mass noun] Chemistry
A crystalline acid obtained by the reaction of phosphorus trioxide with water.
- A dibasic acid; chemical formula: HPO(OH)2.
- A Hoffman rearrangement employing sodium hypobromite yielded the amine which was acid hydrolysed to obtain crude 2-aminoindan - 2 - phosphonic acid.
- The abscission process was also induced in vivo by embrioctomy or 2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid treatment in fruitlets and by deblading in leaves.
Origin
Late 19th century: phosphonic from phospho- 'relating to phosphorus', on the pattern of sulphonic.