▪ I. phosphate, n. Chem.
(ˈfɒsfət)
Also 8–9 phosphat.
[a. F. phosphate (G. de Morveau Nomencl. Ch. 1787), f. phosph- + -ate4.]
1. a. A salt, ester or other organic derivative of a phosphoric acid; esp. in Biochem., any of these derivatives of sugars, nucleosides, etc., which occur widely in living organisms. Also, a radical or group derived from a phosphoric acid. Also attrib.
| 1795 Pearson in Phil. Trans. LXXXV. 335 The siderite of Bergman; which is now believed to be phosphate of iron. 1799 Med. Jrnl. I. 280 The phosphat of mercury has long been known as a chemical preparation. 1826 Henry Elem. Chem. I. 590 Phosphate of lime derives importance from its being the principal ingredient of animal bones, of which it constitutes about 86 per cent. 1869 Roscoe Elem. Chem. (1871) 219 Calcium phosphate, or bone phosphate. 1895 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. LXVIII. i. 639 The liquid separates into two layers, the upper of which seems to contain triallylic phosphate. 1930 Caven & Lander Systematic Inorg. Chem. ix. 237 Soluble phosphates, e.g. those of sodium,..show marked hydrolysis in solution. 1953 Nature 25 Apr. 737/1 The bases are on the inside of the helix and the phosphates on the outside. Ibid. 741/2 The phosphate groups lie on the outside of the structural unit, on a helix of diameter about 20 A. 1953 Fruton & Simmonds Gen. Biochem. xix. 422 In the formulae for the sugar phosphates, the phosphoric acid residue is written in the undissociated form. 1954 A. White et al. Princ. Biochem. xvi. 381 Enzymes which catalyze transfer of phosphate from ATP to an acceptor are designated kinases. 1957 Encycl. Brit. XVII. 780/2 Considerable tonnages of other phosphates such as (NH4)H2PO4 and (NH4)2HPO4 are also used in the fertilizer industry. 1964 N. G. Clark Mod. Org. Chem. xxi. 433 Triphenyl phosphate..is used as a plasticizer for various cellulose and vinyl plastics. 1968 A. White et al. Princ. Biochem. (ed. 4) xv. 315 Three classes of high-energy phosphate compounds are known: acid anhydrides, phosphate esters of enols, and derivatives of phosphamic acid R{b1}NH{b1}PO3H. 1972 Farago & Lagnado Life in Action v. 129 The starting material, glucose, is converted into phosphate derivatives which then go through a series of molecular gyrations, and are finally broken down to three-carbon units. 1976 Nature 1 July 45/1 Adsorption of phosphate on hydrous metal oxides is of considerable importance in soil fertility and eutrophication studies. |
b. Applied esp. to the phosphates of lime or iron and alumina, as constituents of cereals, etc., and to that of lime (calcium) as a mineral.
| 1849 Q. Jrnl. Geol. Soc. V. p. lxxxiv, We find such phosphates surrounding some fossils, such as crustaceans from the London clay, leading us to infer a connexion between the animal matter and this substance. 1858 Carpenter Veg. Phys. §32 One great source of the value of guano,..and many artificial manures, is the phosphates they supply to the soil. 1870 Yeats Nat. Hist. Comm. 37 Soils derived from rocks devoid of phosphates cannot produce cereals. 1891 F. Wyatt Phosphates of Amer. iii. 28 The principal phosphate mines of Canada have been located on those positions of the pyroxenite belt in which, at the surface, the apatite has shown signs of predominating. 1892 Amer. Jrnl. Sci. XLIII. 403 The South Carolina phosphates are nodular in form. 1893 Syd. Soc. Lex., Phosphates, saccharated wheat,..the organic phosphates and cerealin dissolved out of bran, and mixed with milk-sugar. 1936 J. C. Brown India's Mineral Wealth (ed. 2) x. 225 The problem of the utilization of Indian rock phosphates demands more research than it appears yet to have received. 1954 K. B. Cumberland Southwest Pacific ii. 42 In the central Pacific province the only mining is that of phosphate. 1976 Nature 10 June 452/3 If Abbott's Booby were found nesting in the group, this could be of crucial importance for the species, which is now reduced to about 2,000 pairs threatened by phosphate mining on Christmas Island. 1977 Radio Times 1 Jan. 54/4 The Banabans of Ocean Island..claim that they have been exploited..for 76 years because their island turned out to be full of phosphate. |
2. Special Comb.: phosphate bond Biochem., a bond between a phosphate group and another part of a molecule, esp. such a bond in an adenosine phosphate which is hydrolysed to provide energy in living organisms; phosphate glass, a glass of which the major constituent is phosphorus pentoxide or a phosphate; phosphate island, an island consisting largely of phosphate rock; phosphate rock, rock containing a substantial amount of calcium phosphate (usu. in the form of apatite).
| 1940 Jrnl. Biol. Chem. CXXXIV. 463 Since pyruvic acid was found to promote adenylic acid phosphorylation, any such intermediate must contain an energy-rich phosphate bond. 1953 Fruton & Simmonds Gen. Biochem. xv. 355 It has become the custom to refer to phosphate bonds whose hydrolysis is accompanied by the liberation of 8000 to 16,000 cal per mole..as ‘high-energy’ phosphate bonds.., whereas the ester phosphate bonds (as in glucose-6-phosphate) are termed ‘low-energy’ phosphate bonds. 1962 I. Asimov Life & Energy xxi. 291 The two phosphate groups at the end away from the adenosine portion are more easily hydrolyzed than phosphate bonds generally are. 1977 Sci. Amer. Mar. 147/2 It now seems that fast direct-energy release by the splitting of high-energy phosphate bonds supplies our initial power, up to half of the overall oxygen debt. |
| 1937 Glass XIV. 519/1 This work originated from the observation that a phosphate glass..turns red on exposure to soft X-rays. 1950 J. E. Stanworth Physical Properties Glass i. 8 It has long been known that phosphate glasses may be made which resist the attack of hydrofluoric acid solution or gas. 1959 W. A. Weyl Coloured Glasses i. 36 Phosphate glasses..offer certain unique features when used as a base for coloured glasses. |
| 1925 Econ. Geol. XX. 276 The next change is when a phosphate island is elevated by earth movements. 1936 Discovery Aug. 260/1 He [sc. A. F. Ellis] ‘discovered’ Nauru as a phosphate island. |
| 1870 F. S. Holmes Phosphate Rocks S. Carolina 87 The Ashley Phosphate-rock is used in the manufacture of their fertilizer. 1915 W. S. Bayley Minerals & Rocks i. ii. 71 Phosphate rock is a mixture of apatite, phosphorite and various hydrated phosphates. 1923 A. B. Searle Sands & Crushed Rocks I. iv. 199 Coprolite and Phosphorite are natural phosphate rocks which are produced by the accumulation of organic remains. 1965 E. T. Degens Geochem. Sediments iii. 149 Phosphate rocks owe some of their rare metals to co-existing organic matter and sulfides rather than to phosphates themselves. |
Add: Now usu. with pronunc. (ˈfɒsfeɪt). [1.] c. U.S. A type of carbonated soft drink containing a small amount of phosphoric acid, syrup, and (usu. fruit) flavouring. Now chiefly Hist.
Freq. with preceding word denoting the flavouring agent.
| 1890 Saxe's Guide or Hints to Soda Water Dispensers 40 The combination of the raspberry juice with the orange extract makes the finest flavored orange phosphate in the world. 1893 G. T. Dubelle ‘Non Plus Ultra’ Soda Fountain Requisites 48 The climactic effort of the recent period is the ‘phosphate beverage’; and..a very popular series of wine phosphates may be prepared. 1913 W. S. Adkins National Soda Fountain Guide 54 The egg phosphate finished it should not be topped with a grated nutmeg one day and with powdered cinnamon the next. 1978 J. Updike Coup (1979) vi. 241 He ordered a lime phosphate, which he drank up with a single long lunge through the straw. 1986 H. Engel City called July ii. 13 When I was young..the Di had one menu totally given up to sundaes, sodas, frappés, fizzes, phosphates and other frosty desserts. |
▪ II. phosphate, v.
(ˈfɒsfeɪt)
[f. the n. Cf. phosphated a.]
trans. = phosphatize v. 2.
| 1939 Burns & Schuh Protective Coatings for Metals xvi. 374 ‘Coslettizing’ was..used in England for phosphating the steel parts of bicycles. 1963 H. R. Clauser Encycl. Engin. Materials 477/1 The fabricated parts are cleaned.., phosphated and rinsed thoroughly. |
Hence ˈphosphating vbl. n.
| 1940 J. C. Hudson Corrosion of Iron & Steel vi. 136 The proprietary phosphating processes, such as Parkerising and Bonderising. 1948 H. Silman Chem. & Electro-Plated Finishes v. 166 In the presence of accelerators the phosphating process is completed rapidly. 1956 Wernick & Pinner Surface Treatm. & Finishing of Aluminium & Alloys vi. 213 As distinct from chemical oxidation, phosphating is carried out on a clean surface, and the work is therefore degreased before immersing..in the phosphating solution. 1976 J. A. von Fraunhofer Basic Metal Finishing xiii. 146 The simplest phosphating treatment is immersion in hot dilute orthophosphoric acid solution for up to 30 min. but many proprietary solutions and commercial processes are in use. |