Hypophosphorous acid

Hypophosphorous acid is a phosphorus oxyacid with formula H₃PO₂, containing one hydroxyl group and two phosphorus–hydrogen bonds. It is a reducing agent and the conjugate acid of the hypophosphite ion.

Hypophosphite: The anion H₂PO₂⁻, formed when hypophosphorous acid loses its hydroxyl proton. This conjugate base forms when the acid’s single O–H proton dissociates.
Electroless nickel plating: A chemical process that deposits a nickel-containing coating without using external electric current. Hypophosphite reduces nickel ions during widely used electroless nickel deposition.
Phosphorus oxyacid: An acid containing phosphorus, oxygen, and ionizable hydrogen, with phosphorus bonded to oxygen. Hypophosphorous acid is the simplest phosphorus oxyacid with two P–H bonds.
Sodium hypophosphite: An ionic compound with formula NaH₂PO₂, commonly used as a source of hypophosphite ions. It is a stable, widely used salt of the acid’s conjugate base.
Phosphorus–hydrogen bond: A covalent bond between phosphorus and hydrogen in a phosphorus hydride or oxyacid. The two P–H bonds are associated with the acid’s reducing behavior.
Nickel–phosphorus coating: A nickel alloy coating containing phosphorus, commonly deposited by electroless plating. The reducing agent contributes phosphorus to the coating as nickel is deposited.
Phosphoric acid: A triprotic phosphorus oxyacid with formula H₃PO₄ and four phosphorus–oxygen bonds. Unlike hypophosphorous acid, it has no P–H bonds and phosphorus is more oxidized.
Calcium hypophosphite: An ionic compound with formula Ca(H₂PO₂)₂, containing calcium and hypophosphite ions. This salt provides another isolable form of hypophosphite chemistry.
Redox reaction: A chemical reaction in which electrons are transferred and oxidation states change. Hypophosphorous acid acts as a reducing agent by donating electrons in redox reactions.
Organic reduction: A chemical transformation that lowers the oxidation state of an organic molecule. Hypophosphorous acid can serve as a reducing reagent in selected organic transformations.

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