Given a passage and a query based on the passage, generate an unambiguous, concise and simple answer to the query from information in the passage. Note that the answer may not be present in exact form.
Q: Phosphoric acid: Phosphoric acid, (H3PO4), the most important oxygen acid of phosphorus, used to make phosphate salts for fertilizers. It is also used in dental cements, in the preparation of Cola drinks contain a lot of phosphate - so much, in fact, that they can cause too much phosphate in the blood. People use phosphate salts for medicine. Be careful not to confuse phosphate salts with substances such as organophosphates, or with tribasic sodium phosphates and tribasic potassium phosphates, which are very poisonous. This acid is too strong to be used on plants and must be combined with other chemicals to raise the pH of the solution and decrease the potential for plant injury. One means of reducing the acidity of phosphonic acid is to neutralize it with an alkali salt; typically potassium hydroxide (KOH). Assorted References. 1 major reference (in oxyacid: Orthophosphoric acid and phosphate salts) 2 chemical industry (in chemical industry: Phosphorus) 3 nomenclature of acids (in chemical compound: Acids) 4 organosulfur compounds (in organosulfur compound: Preparation) 5 oxyacids (in oxyacid) Phosphonate compounds also occur naturally in some lower life forms, including protozoa, mollusks, coelenterates, and oomycete fungi (6). For this article, we use the term phosphonate to describe only those products made up of the salts and esters of phosphorous acid (HPO(OH) 2 ). Phosphorous acid is a solid substance that can be purchased through chemical supply companies. When mixed with water, it forms a strong acid called phosphonic acid. Among the important phosphate salts are: sodium dihydrogen phosphate (NaH 2 PO 4), used for control of hydrogen ion concentration (acidity) of solutions; disodium hydrogen phosphate (Na 2 HPO 4), used in water treatment as a precipitant for highly charged metal cations; trisodium phosphate (Na 3 PO 4), used in soaps and detergents; calcium dihydrogen phosphate or calcium superphosphate (Ca[H 2 PO 4] 2), a major fertilizer ingredient; calcium monohydrogen phosphate (CaHPO 4), used as a ... Phosphate salts are also used for improving exercise performance, as an antacid for gastroesophageal reflux disease , and as a laxative for emptying the bowels before surgery. Phosphate salts and calcium are applied to sensitive teeth to reduce pain. Rectally, phosphate salts are used as a laxative to clean the bowels before surgery or intestinal tests. Healthcare providers sometimes give potassium phosphate intravenously (by IV) for treating low phosphate and high calcium levels in the blood, and for preventing low phosphate in patients who are being tube-fed. Phosphoric acid, also called orthophosphoric acid, (H 3 PO 4), the most important oxygen acid of phosphorus, used to make phosphate salts for fertilizers. It is also used in dental cements, in the preparation of albumin derivatives, and in the sugar and textile industries. It serves as an acidic, fruitlike flavouring in food products. 1 Pure phosphoric acid is a crystalline solid (melting point 42.35 C, or 108.2 F); in less concentrated form it is a colourless syrupy liquid. 2 Phosphoric acid forms three classes of salts corresponding to replacement of one, two, or three hydrogen atoms. Written By: Phosphoric acid, also called orthophosphoric acid, (H3PO4), the most important oxygen acid of phosphorus, used to make phosphate salts for fertilizers. It is also used in dental cements, in the preparation of albumin derivatives, and in the sugar and textile industries. It serves as an acidic, fruitlike flavouring in food products. 1 Pure phosphoric acid is a crystalline solid (melting point 42.35 C, or 108.2 F); in less concentrated form it is a colourless syrupy liquid. The crude acid is prepared from phosphate rock, while acid of higher purity is made from white phosphorus. Query: how is phosphate salts used
A:
Phosphate salts are also used for improving exercise performance, as an antacid for gastroesophageal reflux disease , and as a laxative for emptying the bowels before surgery. Phosphate salts are used as a laxative to clean the bowels before surgery or intestinal tests.