Title:  Phosphorous Acid 
CAS Registry Number:  13598-36-2 
CAS Name:  Phosphonic acid 
Molecular Formula:  H3O3P 
Molecular Weight:  82.00 
Percent Composition:  H 3.69%, O 58.53%, P 37.77% 
Literature References:  Prepd by hydrolysis of PCl3 according to the equation PCl3 + 3H2O ® H3PO3 + 3HCl, the rather violent reaction can be slowed down by the initial presence of concd HCl:  Milobedzki, Friedmann, Chem. Pol. 15, 76 (1917); Chem. Z. 1918, I, 933; Simon, Fehér, Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 230, 298 (1937).  Alternate procedure carrying out the reaction in carbon tetrachloride:  Voight, Gallais, Inorg. Synth. 4, 55 (1953).  Review:  Ohashi, "Lower Oxo Acids of Phosphorus and Their Salts" in Topics in Phosphorus Chemistry Vol. 1, M. Grayson, E. J. Griffith, Eds. (Interscience, New York, 1964) pp 113-187. 
Properties:  White, very hygroscopic and deliquesc, crystalline mass; garlic-like taste; slowly oxidized by oxygen (air) to H3PO4.  d421 1.65; d476 liq 1.597.  mp ~73°; above 180° is dec into PH3 and H3PO4.  Very sol in water, alcohol.  pK1 1.29; pK2 6.74.  Usually marketed as a 20% aq soln. 
Melting point:  mp ~73° 
pKa:  pK1 1.29; pK2 6.74 
Density:  d421 1.65; d476 liq 1.597   |