EnvThes – Thesaurus for long term ecological research, monitoring and experiments

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Preferred term

phosphate

Is replaced by

Definition

  • [Henderson's] n. the phosphate anion PO34– or a salt of phosphoric acid (e.g. potassium phosphate, K3PO4). Phosphates are essen­tial to the metabolism of living organisms because inorganic phosphate is required for the synthesis of the energy-storage molecule ATP. Plants and microorganisms take up phosphorus mainly in the form of phosphates, and various phosphates are used as fertilizers. Excess phosphate washed into streams and lakes contributes to eutrophication and the formation of algal blooms. see also phosphorus cycle, phosphoryl group.

Broader concept

Entry terms

  • PO4

Scope note

  • US LTER controlled vocabulary

Creator

  • herbert.schentz@umweltbundesamt.at

In other languages

French

  • phosphate

URI

http://vocabs.lter-europe.net/EnvThes/USLterCV_415

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