phosphates


phosphates

Salts or esters of phosphoric acids or salts or esters containing a phosphorus atom. Most of the body phosphate is combined with calcium in the bones and teeth but an important fraction occurs in the blood and in all cells. Phosphates help to stabilize the pH of the blood and other tissue fluids and occur in the ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE (ATP) which stores and releases energy in cells. They are also important groups in the structure of DNA and RNA NUCLEOTIDES.