Phosphate group acidic or not? I would like to ask whether or not the "Phosphate Functional Group" itself is acidic. I understand that the compound Phosphoric Acid is very acidic, with several hydrogens. However the Phopshate itself lacks hydrogens to donate. Please clear up any misudnerstandings I am having right now. Thank you so much.
No, the phosphate functional group, $\ce{P(O)(OR)_3}$, itself is not acidic. Only protic phosphates are acidic. Phosphates that aren't phosphoric acids (i.e. $\ce{P(O)(OH)_{x}(OR)_{3-x}}$) are actually Lewis bases. The carbonyl oxygen is able to coordinate metals and other Lewis acids.