Phosphates are important chemicals. In fact, your bones are made of calcium phosphate. DNA and RNA also contain phosphate groups.
Phosphate groups contain phosphorus and oxygen atoms.
The Phosphate Cycle. The picture below shows the phosphate cycle. Inorganic phosphate can come from weathering of rocks or it can be added in the form of fertilizer. Plants use the phosphates to grow, and animals that eat plants consume the phosphates in the plants. You may have noticed that many laundry detergents advertise that they are phosphate free .