Phosphates are mostly used in agriculture and one of the three...

Phosphates are mostly used in agriculture and one of the three nutrients needed by plants. Therefore, they are an important component of fertilisers for plant growth.

A phosphate is a salt of phosphoric acid (H_3PO_4). Phosphates are the naturally occurring form of element phosphorus (P). Phosphorus is seldom found in its pure element form. Phosphate refers to a rock or ore that contains phosphate ions (PO_4^3-). Phosphate is found in beds in sedimentary rock.

Uses of phosphorus from rock phosphate also include animal feed supplements, food preservatives, anti-corrosion agents, cosmetics, fungicides, ceramics, water treatment, etc.

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