PHOSPHORIC ACID

Phosphoric acid appears as a clear colorless liquid or transparent crystalline solid. Phosphoric acid is a component of fertilizers (80% of total use), detergents, and many household cleaning products. Dilute solutions have a pleasing acid taste; thus, it's also used as a food additive, lending acidic properties to soft drinks and other prepared foods, and in water treatment products. It is also used in rust proofing, engraving, and metal coating and is an intermediate or reagent in many manufacturing processes. Phosphoric acid also occurs naturally in many fruits and their juices. Apart from use of phosphoric acid itself, the greatest consumption of phosphoric acid is in the manufacture of phosphate salts. Taking advantage of its ability to lower blood pH, phosphoric acid has been used therapeutically to treat lead poisoning.