Question

What sort of acid is phosphoric acid in aqueous solution?

Answer 1

Because the parent acid is potentially triprotic.............and phosphate salts, i.e. salts of `PO_4^(3-)` are possible.

Explanation:

I write `"potentially"` because in aqueous solution, phosphoric acid is to all intents and purposes, a diacid:

`H_3PO_4(aq) + 2KOH(aq) rarr K_2HPO_4(aq) + 2H_2O(l)`,

i.e. the salt is potassium biphosphate, `K_2^(+)[HPO_4]^(2-)`