pyrophosphoric acid

Pyrophosphoric acid is a phosphorus oxoacid with the chemical formula H4P2O7. It is a colorless, odorless, viscous, and highly water-soluble solid or liquid at room temperature. Structurally, it consists of two phosphate groups joined by an oxygen bridge. Pyrophosphoric acid is a tetraprotic acid (can donate four protons) and exists as various protonated forms depending on pH[1][6]. In medicine, it serves as an ingredient in radiopharmaceuticals used for imaging bone and cardiovascular abnormalities and has been included in products to prevent iron deficiency anemia[3]. Mechanistically, it can act as an inhibitor of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase[3]. Outside pharmaceuticals, it finds use in fertilizer production (enhancing phosphorus availability), food processing (as stabilizer/acidity regulator), biochemical research (especially nucleotide/nucleic acids studies), water treatment (removal of heavy metals), catalysis, metal refining, and as a complexing agent for metal ions like iron[5][6][8].

Other names

diphosphoric acidpyrophosphorsäurephosphonooxyphosphonic acidacide diphosphoriquePPi cpd