2835.10.00.00 - Phosphinates (hypophosphites) and phosphonates (phosphites)

This HTS category, 2835.10.00.00, specifically encompasses phosphinates (also known as hypophosphites) and phosphonates (also known as phosphites). These are chemical compounds characterized by the presence of a phosphorus-carbon bond or a phosphorus-hydrogen bond directly attached to phosphorus. Examples include sodium hypophosphite, commonly used as a reducing agent in electroless plating, and various organic phosphonates employed in water treatment and as flame retardants.

It is important to distinguish this category from its siblings. While all fall under the broader heading for phosphorus compounds, 2835.10.00.00 is distinct from "Phosphates," which primarily involve phosphorus bonded to oxygen and other elements but lack the direct phosphorus-carbon or phosphorus-hydrogen bonds characteristic of phosphinates and phosphonates. Similarly, it differs from "Polyphosphates," which are chains or rings of phosphate units, rather than discrete phosphinate or phosphonate molecules.

As this is a leaf node in the HTS structure, there are no further subcategories. Therefore, the classification of a substance within 2835.10.00.00 relies on its precise chemical identification as either a phosphinate or a phosphonate, considering its specific chemical formula and properties.