what does the prefix ortho- in orthophosphoric acid imply?

Question

mphetang · Answer

and how does it differentiate it from phosphoric acid?

blues · Answer

Orthophosphate is a single phosphate with four oxygens bonded to it. In this case the "ortho-" means one. Just side info but it illustrates the point, pyrophosphate is two phosphates bonded to each other and to three oxygens each. How they got "one" out of "ortho-" and two out of "pyro-", which means fire in some old language, I don't know - but they did.

mphetang · Answer

thanx bro!

blues · Answer

np. :D

mphetang · Answer

let me be a bit 20 years back, what does that mean and what does :) mean?just curious........huh!!!

blues · Answer

Sorry but I don't understand your question...?

blues · Answer

Oh gottcha, :D and :) and :P and :/ are little faces. Art of sorts I guess. And "np" is my shortening for "not a problem."

mphetang · Answer

oh alright, hahahaha, thanx bro....

blues · Answer

Sis. But that was by no means obvious.

mphetang · Answer

yah true that...