Phosphoric acid is a weak acid with the chemical formula H₃PO₄. The pure compound is a colorless solid. All three hydrogens are acidic to varying degrees and can be lost from the molecule as H⁺ ions. When all three H⁺ ions are removed, the result is an orthophosphate ion PO3−4, commonly called “phosphate”
Phosphoric Acid is a colorless, odorless phosphorus-containing inorganic acid. Phosphoric acid is a sequestering agent which binds many divalent cations, including Fe++, Cu++, Ca++, and Mg++. Phosphoric acid is used in dentistry and orthodontics as an etching solution, to clean and roughen the surfaces of teeth where dental appliances or fillings will be placed. In addition, phosphoric acid is a constituent in bone and teeth, and plays a role in many metabolic processes.