Organophosphorus compound
![Illustrative organophosphates and related compounds: phosphatidylcholine, triphenylphosphate, cyclophosphamide, parathion, and zinc dithiophosphate.](/Images/godic/202501/31/PhosphatesView5918.png")
![Illustrative examples of phosphonates and phosphinates in the order shown: Sarin (phosphinate), Glyphosate (phosphonate), fosfomycin (phosphonate), zoledronic acid (phosphonate), and Glufosinate (phosphinate). In aqueous solution, phosphonic acids ionize to give the corresponding organophosphonates.](/Images/godic/202501/31/PhosphonatesEtc5918.png")
![Illustrative phosphorus(V) compounds: the phosphonium ion P(CH2OH)4+, two resonance structures for the Wittig reagent Ph3PCH2, and pentaphenylphosphorane, a rare pentaorganophophorus compound.](/Images/godic/202501/31/PhosphoranePh55918.png")
![Various reduced organophosphorus compounds: a complex of an organophosphine pincer ligand, the chiral diphosphine used in homogeneous catalysis, the primary phosphine PhPH2, and the phosphorus(I) compound (PPh)5.](/Images/godic/202501/31/PhosphinesVarious5918.png")
Organophosphorus compounds are organic compounds containing phosphorus. They are used primarily in pest control as an alternative to chlorinated hydrocarbons that persist in the environment. Organophosphorus chemistry is the corresponding science of the properties and reactivity of organophosphorus compounds. Phosphorus shares group 5 in the periodic table with nitrogen, and thus phosphorus compounds and nitrogen compounds have many similar properties.