Contact Us
Chengguan District, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
© 2025 Jeifer Pharmaceutical, All Right
Reserved.
Back in the dawn of industrial chemistry, simple salts like sodium dihydrogen phosphate shaped daily work in pharmacies and factories both. The hunt for more reliable and controllable additives led to the refinement of this material, and nearly every pharma lab over the past century has touched a version of it. Driven by the need for stable pH buffers in pharmaceuticals and reliable food preservation, the anhydrous variant emerged in the early to mid-20th century as drying methods and purity standards advanced. Stringent pharmacopoeia benchmarks like BP, EP, and USP standards forced producers to move past open-air evaporation and crude processing. Today, labs analyze trace elements, check for heavy metal contents, and demand batch-to-batch consistency, a direct result of a long story of improvement and lessons learned from both clinical and industrial feedback.
Anhydrous sodium dihydrogen phosphate, which many chemists call monosodium phosphate, carries a formula of NaH2PO4. Its white, granular form pours easily, resisting clumping in the jar, a trait I have appreciated during general buffer preparation and titration. Sold for both pharmaceutical and industrial purposes, its grade must meet tight rules for contaminants, clarity, and solubility. The familiar bite of its tangy taste in oral formulations comes not from any flavor chemistry but its enduring use as an acidity regulator. Drug manufacturers, analytical chemists, and food technologists use pharma grade material to avoid impurities, trusting labels and data sheets anchored in tests set by British, European, and US Pharmacopeias.
Solid at room temperature, anhydrous sodium dihydrogen phosphate shows up as a white powder, gritty between the fingers. Water easily dissolves it, but it will not budge in alcohol. Its melting point falls above 200°C, but in practice, breakdown begins with slow dehydration before it fully melts. In aqueous solution, it acts as a mild acid, lowering pH, and interacts predictably in buffers when paired with its disodium or trisodium cousins. Density, at around 2.04 g/cm3, lets it settle fast out of a suspension. Unlike many other phosphates, the anhydrous version holds no trapped water, so there's no need to correct for hydration during formulation—an everyday problem with other salts that wastes time in the lab.
Manufacturers must document purity, appearance, insoluble matter, pH range, breakdown for sodium and phosphate content, and limits for heavy metals. Most product sheets lay out sulfates, chlorides, arsenic, and iron limits in the low parts per million, reflecting the demands of injectables and oral medications. As a user, I’ve learned to check the single-use packet's lot number and expiration before blending. Pharma grade material not only lists the nominal content but also batch analyses by HPLC, infra-red spectra, and moisture check results, which provide peace of mind in clinical or research settings where trace contamination threatens patient safety or experimental reliability. Any slip from these numbers can halt batch release and set off an investigation.
Most commercial producers rely on the neutralization of phosphoric acid with sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide, strictly controlling the reaction to favor the monosodium endpoint. The trick is stopping short of excess sodium, letting the dihydrogen phosphate crystallize out by cooling or evaporation, then removing traces of water for anhydrous purity. I’ve watched teams employ vacuum drying and precise temperature control because even a few stray water molecules alter product weight and function in sensitive pharmaceutical blends. Some operations recycle mother liquors, squeezing out efficiency, while any off-spec runs get reprocessed instead of shipped. For the highest quality, each new vessel, pipe, and filter line must pass rigorous cleaning and validation, with cross-contamination checks to protect patient health and avoid regulatory shutdowns.
As a chemically mild acid salt, anhydrous sodium dihydrogen phosphate stands up well in most mixtures, though it reacts with strong bases to generate dibasic and tribasic phosphate forms. Under heat, it gives up water to create sodium pyrophosphate, a property sometimes used intentionally in advanced formulations. Adding magnesium or calcium salts throws out double salts, sometimes useful in controlled-release tablet coatings. While its main job lies in pH adjustment, in my past work, combinations with other sodium salts let pharmacists dial in buffering capacity for both oral and injectable medicines. Rarely, modifications add chelating agents or coat particles to improve storage or delivery, especially in research settings probing novel drug forms.
You may spot this chemical sold as monosodium phosphate, sodium acid phosphate, primary sodium phosphate, or under its official registry names in the BP, EP, or USP compendiums. Pharma suppliers typically add grade identifiers, lot codes, and may flag the anhydrous designation to distinguish it from dihydrate or monohydrate forms—all of which behave differently in dissolution or mixing. Internally at companies, batch numbers tie back to production days, and in regulatory filings, every label detail counts. For those working in multi-lingual or overseas labs, trade names may introduce confusion, but traceability through global IFRA and FDA systems keeps supply chains honest.
From my personal experience in chemical storerooms, the main risk with anhydrous sodium dihydrogen phosphate comes from inhaling fine dust or accidental ingestion. Most large users enforce protective gear, splash-proof gloves, and eye protection. Storage rules stick to cool, dry shelves, far from moisture or acids that might kick off unwanted reactions. Safety data sheets highlight the need to wash off dust immediately if it contacts skin or eyes. In terms of handling, operational standards overlap with other pharmaceutical excipients: label reconciliation, revalidation of weighing balances, regular retraining, and access restriction to prevent tampering or mix-ups that could derail a drug batch or risk worker health.
Pharmaceuticals depend on sodium dihydrogen phosphate for pH control, isotonic solutions, and buffering—anyone who has made saline drip or reconstituted powder injectables has measured out grams of this salt. Oral formulations often use it for its acidity, masking bitter flavors or promoting tablet breakdown in the stomach. In the food industry, bakers and cheese producers value it for fine-tuning acidity. Analytical labs rely on its reliable buffering action in chromatography and enzyme reactions. Water treatment facilities introduce small quantities to control pipe corrosion and mineral scale. Veterinarians dose it in animal supplements, since its sodium and phosphate load make it useful for metabolic health.
Research into new forms and uses of sodium dihydrogen phosphate hasn’t slowed—instead, pharma innovators test modified-release formats and combination blends. Universities study its behavior in artificial biological fluids, since in vitro models help predict patient response. My own runs in analytical labs revealed minor but real differences in batch solubility, pushing teams to tweak drying and grinding steps. Advanced spectrometry tracks micro-impurities, while focus groups at some companies debate particle size distribution for improved flow in modern tableting machines. Start-ups try to replace animal-sourced inputs with mineral-based precursors, and green chemistry labs cut emissions and waste through new synthesis protocols.
Sodium dihydrogen phosphate sits on the low end of toxicity among industrial and pharma salts, but long-term ingestion above recommended doses stresses the kidneys and complicates calcium handling. Animal studies, pulled from journals dating back fifty years, confirm low acute oral toxicity in rats, but show risk for electrolyte imbalance with high repeated intake. In clinical situations, doctors monitor those on chronic phosphate therapies, checking for signs of sodium load or phosphate retention. From my view, real-world accidents almost always stem from labeling slips or accidental overdosing, so regular audits and education play nearly as big a role as the chemical’s own properties.
Looking forward, anhydrous sodium dihydrogen phosphate stands to hold or even grow its place in pharmaceutical manufacturing. The expanding push into biologics and personalized medicine means ongoing demand for reliable, biocompatible buffers. Regulations get tighter every year, and with growing environmental scrutiny, next-generation production facilities will focus on sustainability and renewable raw materials. Researchers are also probing how microstructures of the anhydrous form can influence solubility and absorption—potentially opening up new drug delivery options. Emerging economies, building up their own pharma sectors, need trustworthy ingredients to meet global standards, pointing to a robust future for this simple, yet crucial, chemical.
Anhydrous sodium dihydrogen phosphate stands out in the world of pharmaceuticals and food chemistry for its steady, reliable role. Its chemical formula is NaH2PO4. Chemists track it with the CAS number 7558-80-7. Knowing these identifiers matters. Mixing up chemicals happens all too quickly without clear labels, and the smallest mistake can wreck an entire production run, ruin critical research, or even affect health. Precision matters everywhere, but in pharma—nobody gets a second chance.
Pharma grade sodium dihydrogen phosphate isn’t just about the sodium and phosphate atoms. It comes down to trace metals, moisture content, and sometimes the source of raw materials. British Pharmacopoeia (BP), European Pharmacopoeia (EP), and United States Pharmacopeia (USP) all demand a level of scrutiny that goes beyond numbers and formulas. Each pharmacopeia runs its own checks. Contaminants sneak into poorly-made chemicals and often go unseen. As a chemistry student once working in the lab, I remember the headaches caused by a supplier changing grades of a salt without telling us. A fraction of a percent off-spec, and reactions fail or side effects slip through.
Some folks look for sodium dihydrogen phosphate in food processing, water treatment, and labs. For pharmaceuticals, things get serious. Only pharma grade carries the guarantee that batches have met strict purity standards. For instance, heavy metals capped at tiny fractions—parts per million—bring unmatched safety. That’s crucial for products going into the human body: IV fluids, oral tablets, and even coatings. If you cut corners, the results aren’t just financial. They’re personal and medical.
Hospitals and clinics rely on this compound for its buffering ability. Controlling pH doesn’t sound like a big deal until you see what happens to drug stability when acids or bases drift out of range. Imagine an injection that’s supposed to be safe but gets ruined by a pH shift—patient care takes a hit. For medicines that dissolve in water, anhydrous means no hidden water content to shift dosages out of tolerance. If every pill in a bottle doesn’t have the same strength, the pharmacist’s trust crumbles.
Labs use sodium dihydrogen phosphate in everything from molecular biology to food analysis. Buffer solutions play a behind-the-scenes role, establishing stable environments where proteins or DNA don’t degrade or react unpredictably. Skipping on the pharma grade occasionally invites wildcards—reactions that suddenly fail, results that stop matching up. Years ago, that lesson came through painfully clear after hours lost troubleshooting a broken enzyme test, only to find the wrong grade salt at fault.
Sourcing the right grade means working with audited suppliers. Documentation trails—certificates of analysis, batch records—aren’t red tape. They help everyone from regulators to researchers. In countries with less regulation, risk grows. Some strategies can help: tighter supplier qualification, lots of spot testing, and keeping records for every batch. Those steps may slow things down, but the alternative—danger, lawsuits, public recalls—will always cost more, in money and in trust.
Anhydrous sodium dihydrogen phosphate’s chemical identity provides the starting point, but purity, consistency, and traceability drive safe and effective use, especially in medicine. Whether running a hospital pharmacy or small lab, investing in reliability pays off every single time.
Pharmaceuticals rely on the right environment to work safely. Anhydrous sodium dihydrogen phosphate holds a reputation for keeping solutions from becoming too acidic or too basic. Take oral electrolyte solutions, for example. The right pH guards against irritation in the digestive tract and keeps active ingredients from breaking down. Hospitals often use this compound in rehydration therapy. In my experience, even a small pH swing can lead to big problems like drug denaturation. This phosphate salt stops that from happening, bringing reliability to each dose.
A dependable tablet dissolves the same way every time. This calls for the control that anhydrous sodium dihydrogen phosphate delivers. Formulators use it as an excipient, which means it helps active drugs work by keeping the mix right. As someone who’s seen batches ruined by inconsistent dissolution, I see how this phosphate prevents wasted medicine and unpredictable results. Quality control teams appreciate its stable flow and compressibility in granule mixes.
Injectable drugs face extra hurdles since they enter the bloodstream directly. With this in mind, maintaining pH balance and isotonicity can be a matter of patient safety. Sodium dihydrogen phosphate comes into play in saline drips, vaccines, and infusion fluids. Everything needs to match human blood as closely as possible. A misstep causes pain or reactions at the injection site. That’s why pharmacists often turn to this reliable salt as a cost-effective, well-understood solution.
Blood tests, enzyme assays, and genetic analyses often depend on reactions happening under tightly controlled conditions. Research settings and clinical labs add this phosphate to keep reactions humming along in the sweet spot. In these fields, a minor change in pH can throw off results and waste samples. As I’ve seen in biotechnology setups, researchers count on this salt for buffer systems that make those experiments trustworthy, so diagnostic data stays reliable and actionable.
Doctors often prescribe bowel preparation before colonoscopies and other gastrointestinal procedures. Many commercial laxatives mix sodium dihydrogen phosphate with other ingredients to stimulate bowel emptying. Patients depend on these products for safe, predictable results. Problems happen when a preparation isn’t balanced and leads to too much dehydration or discomfort. Having this buffer in the mix stabilizes the solution and supports the medicinal action, which improves both patient outcomes and compliance.
Easy access and reliability don’t mean risks don’t exist. Sodium balance in the body can tip with overuse, especially for patients with kidney problems or heart disease. Pharmaceutical manufacturers and prescribers should flag possible issues for at-risk groups. More transparent labeling and caregiver education could help catch problems before they start. Further research might also improve ways to minimize unnecessary exposure.
Judging by the track record of this compound, it’s clear that anhydrous sodium dihydrogen phosphate supports safe, high-quality medications. These practical applications underline the importance of detailed testing, regulatory oversight, and awareness among healthcare professionals to keep real-world outcomes positive.
With years spent in pharmaceutical workflows, one of the most important lessons is that storage conditions shape the safety and effectiveness of every ingredient. Anhydrous sodium dihydrogen phosphate looks innocent enough on a shelf, but ignoring details with this salt can cause headaches that ripple all the way to patient care.
This compound attracts water, so a loose cap or a leaky bag ends up turning an anhydrous powder into a soggy mess before anybody realizes. A humidity-controlled environment keeps water at bay. Pharmacies and labs with high ambient moisture soon see clumping or even chemical changes. Dry rooms or tightly closed bottles with moisture-absorbing packets provide a simple solution. Even a short exposure to humid air during weighing can add enough water to throw off calculations, potentially affecting solutions’ intended pH or the strength of a final product.
Stable room temperature works best here. Too much heat, and the container sweats internally, which undoes the “anhydrous” part and sends the powder on a path to spoilage. Storing above radiators or in sunlit cupboards shortens shelf life, and sudden temperature swings create condensation — which again spells trouble. Consistent climates prolong integrity. In my experience, many quality complaints start with skips in daily temperature checks. Investing in a simple thermometer and log sheets holds staff accountable.
Open scoops and reused containers once seemed harmless. Eventually, microscopic residues and airborne particles wreaked havoc on test results. A separate, clearly labeled container for each batch avoids confusion. Dedicated scoops and a “clean hands and gloves” rule stop traces from drifting into other ingredients. Clean benches and sealed transfer tools make this routine. Small acts like keeping storage shelves dust-free and using color-coded labels pay off down the line when audits arrive or when an unexpected investigation tracks ingredients backwards.
Accidentally breathing in pharmaceutical-grade powders or getting them on skin causes irritation. Simple goggles, masks, and gloves spare workers from unnecessary exposure. Good ventilation matters, especially when weighing out quantities for compounding or production. Staff briefings on material safety data, including what steps to take after a spill, strengthen the response if something goes wrong. Too often, I’ve seen folks overlook the basics and pay for it later with rashes or respiratory issues.
Pharmaceutical supply rooms overflow with products, each with its own expiry dates and batch codes. A clear log showing what arrived, where it’s stored, and when to replace it prevents outdated stock from sneaking into production. Real-time tracking beats relying on memory. When a recall or investigation arises, knowing exactly which lot went into what batch saves weeks of manual checking. Even in a small lab, a simple spreadsheet provides peace of mind.
Consistent training for new staff, posted reminders in storage areas, and regular checks cut down on mistakes. Every protocol, from using clean utensils to checking cap tightness, shields the final user: the patient. Pharmacies and laboratories live under constant scrutiny, and it takes only a single mishap to lose trust. I’ve seen organizations regain footing after tightening these protocols — and I’ve seen reputations fade because of short cuts.
In the end, clear rules, smart labeling, and basic vigilance carry more weight than fancy equipment. Protecting something as simple as anhydrous sodium dihydrogen phosphate ensures the rest of the process stands on solid ground.
Choosing the right package size for BP, EP, and USP grade products shapes the workflow in both small labs and large pharmaceutical sites. Small-scale researchers often lean toward 100-gram or 500-gram containers, which meet day-to-day needs without unnecessary surplus. Labs operating on a moderate scale commonly stock 1-kilogram or 5-kilogram packs. For industrial manufacturing, 25-kilogram drums and even 50-kilogram fiberboard barrels become routine. It’s not just about scale; cost and shelf life weigh in too. A kilo pack can save storage space and cut down on waste from expired chemicals, which matters for both budgets and environmental impact. I worked with a midsize manufacturer that adjusted their orders from 25kg drums to 5kg jars, cutting chemical waste by more than 30%. This tweak didn’t just save dollars; it lifted operational efficiency and reduced disposal needs.
Strict standards from BP, EP, and USP touch every batch that moves from supplier to bench or production line. These grades stand for British Pharmacopoeia, European Pharmacopoeia, and United States Pharmacopeia, and each sets a high bar for chemical purity and contaminant thresholds.
Lab teams reviewing certificates of analysis look for purity ranging from 98% up to 100%. Trace metals, water content, and microbial contamination counts often get detailed out below industry-benchmark levels—sometimes at parts-per-million or parts-per-billion. A difference of 0.5% in purity can spark major changes in a formulation’s behavior, especially where injectable or high-sensitivity drugs are in the mix. During a product launch I worked on, shifting from a 99% to a 99.5% API purity significantly reduced downstream purification steps, tightening timelines and improving output quality. These details feed into the regulatory paperwork, the audit trail, and the eventual batch release.
It’s not unusual to see product data sheets listing “BP/EP/USP grade, min. 99.5% purity, ≤0.01% heavy metals, ≤0.05% loss on drying.” Each of these lines reflects hours spent both at the supplier and in QA labs, checking and retesting to make sure the material will not stumble during production or clinical trials.
When buying these grades, supply chain communication takes center stage. Reliable suppliers are willing to share not just batch-specific certificates of analysis but third-party test data as well. For instance, companies with ISO 9001 certification keep detailed production and testing records, and don’t hesitate to provide purity specs, certificates, and storage guidelines on request. Sourcing managers should develop routines to audit test reports and sometimes even pull random samples for in-house verification. An old habit in the lab meant splitting every new drum and testing both top and bottom samples for consistency. This approach once helped us catch a minor but critical solvent contamination that the primary analysis missed, saving a project from costly delays down the line.
Looking at packaging sizes and high-grade purity specs side by side enables smarter choices. For operations seeking better cost control, alternating between bulk and smaller packs based on planned use helps limit both spoilage and unexpected shortages. For others, investing in supplier relationships with open purity data saves time and can pay off big during regulatory reviews. Whether overseeing an academic lab or a pharmaceutical facility, tying packaging and purity data into weekly inventory and quality checks makes for a safer, smoother workflow and sometimes the difference between a smooth production run and a stalled one.
Pharmaceutical manufacturing stays under a stronger magnifying glass than nearly any other industry on the planet. Global pharmacopeia standards exist because consumers and patients, whether sitting in a New York clinic or a hospital in Mumbai, expect every drug or ingredient to meet a defined set of quality and safety benchmarks. These standards, developed by organizations like the USP (United States Pharmacopeia), EP (European Pharmacopoeia), and JP (Japanese Pharmacopoeia), create a common ground for companies, regulators, and end-users.
For folks who haven’t worked in this space, each of these pharmacopeias issues their own set of specifications for purity, potency, and acceptable types or amounts of impurities for an ingredient or finished product. Each country’s standards may seem like bureaucratic red tape, but after seeing how even a minor impurity or inconsistency can compromise patient safety, the picture gets clearer. One pharmaceutical raw material, for example, may comply with all USP limits but fall outside EP limits for a certain impurity—rendering it unsuitable for Europe but still fine for the U.S. Skipping this step can mean the difference between product approval and a complete recall, not to mention risking harm to those who actually need the product.
A Certificate of Analysis isn’t just part of a paperwork trail. For every batch that’s released, a COA ties that batch to its documented level of compliance. Those numbers—assay values, impurities found, residual solvent levels—bring real peace of mind to both buyers and regulators. In the labs where I’ve worked, no raw material gets used without a current COA. Sometimes a COA gets overlooked in the rush to get products shipped, but every time that’s happened, it’s come back to bite, either through delayed release or a compliance hold.
Most reputable suppliers display their compliance with global pharmacopeia standards up front, right in their specs and certificates. Every product that claims worldwide market access gets tested to the most stringent set of relevant pharmacopeia standards. If a product skips global pharmacopeia compliance, it might face blocked shipments, regulatory action, or cause a company’s name to take a hit. Companies earning repeat business and trust do not cut corners here. They know that doctors, pharmacists, and patients depend on more than a marketing line; they demand assurance, and a COA reflects that.
One important step is using digital platforms for batch tracking and sharing COAs. Blockchain and cloud-based tools make it tougher for counterfeiters or careless suppliers to slip something substandard through. Audits, both internal and from third parties, spot weaknesses in compliance practices before they become real threats. Product recalls, damaged reputations, and regulatory fines eat deep into margin. I’ve seen companies invest in new testing equipment and compliance tracking out of a simple realization: transparency isn’t just a regulatory checkmark, it helps the business stay alive.
Every player in the pharmaceutical supply chain owes something to those standards and that COA. Patients likely never read them, and yet their lives rest on this attention to quality and traceability. From experience, pushing for wider adoption of the strictest testing requirements and real-time COA verification builds trust—between suppliers and buyers, and ultimately between the public and the industry that serves them.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | Sodium dihydrogen phosphate |
| Other names |
Monosodium Phosphate MSP Sodium Dihydrogen Phosphate Anhydrous Sodium Phosphate Monobasic Anhydrous Sodium Phosphoricum Phosphoric Acid, Monosodium Salt, Anhydrous |
| Pronunciation | /ænˈhaɪ.drəs ˈsoʊ.di.əm daɪˈhaɪ.drə.dʒən fəˈsfeɪt/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 7558-80-7 |
| 3D model (JSmol) | `load = "NaH2PO4"` |
| Beilstein Reference | 390422 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:63034 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1201192 |
| ChemSpider | 70212 |
| DrugBank | DB09467 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 03e4e5b8-1fcf-4853-bbb5-7cbf19e4b3db |
| EC Number | 231-449-2 |
| Gmelin Reference | 6046 |
| KEGG | C01009 |
| MeSH | Dihydrogen Phosphate (MeSH D010627) |
| PubChem CID | 24203 |
| RTECS number | WC4500000 |
| UNII | 7W7V3F01BO |
| UN number | Not regulated |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | NaH2PO4 |
| Molar mass | 119.98 g/mol |
| Appearance | White crystalline powder |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Density | 2.04 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | >85 g/100 mL (20 °C) |
| log P | -2.1 |
| Vapor pressure | Negligible |
| Acidity (pKa) | 2.0 – 2.5 |
| Basicity (pKb) | 11.8 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | Diamagnetic |
| Dipole moment | NaN |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 92.6 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | −1267 kJ·mol⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -1287 kJ/mol |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | A07AA02 |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | May cause irritation to eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. |
| GHS labelling | GHS05, GHS07 |
| Pictograms | GHS07, GHS09 |
| Signal word | No signal word |
| Hazard statements | H315, H319, H335 |
| Precautionary statements | P264, P270, P280, P301+P312, P305+P351+P338, P330, P501 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 1-0-0 |
| LD50 (median dose) | > 17,800 mg/kg (Rat, oral) |
| NIOSH | Not listed |
| PEL (Permissible) | Not established |
| REL (Recommended) | Not established |
| IDLH (Immediate danger) | Not listed. |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Disodium hydrogen phosphate Trisodium phosphate Monopotassium phosphate Phosphoric acid |
Chengguan District, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
