Mainly disodium hydrogen phosphate (Na2HPO4) is a sodium salt of phosphoric acid. It is a white powder and easily soluble in water. It is also highly hygroscopic. Monobasic and dibasic sodium phosphate is employed as a saline laxative to treat constipation. Moreover, it is also used to clean the bowel before a colonoscopy. This material exhibits excellent applications in optical communication, second harmonic generation (SHG), laser technology, optoelectronic technology and data storage technology.

It is used commercially in the powdered form as an anti-caking additive. It is also known as three different names such as disodium hydrogen orthophosphate, sodium hydrogen phosphate or sodium phosphate dibasic. This material is commercially available in both the hydrated and anhydrous forms. PH of disodium hydrogen phosphate water solution is basic.

Disodium phosphate is employed in Cream of Wheat to quicken cook time. Moreover, it is also utilised as Jell-O Instant Pudding for thickening, as described on the ingredients panel of the product package. It is widely used in food products for adjusting the pH, and also used to prevent the milk coagulation in the preparation of condensed milk.

In many steam-boiler applications, Disodium phosphate is used in conjunction with trisodium phosphate. It provides the inventory of free phosphates to retard calcium scale formation.  Trisodium phosphate is used as detergents, cleaning agents and in water treatment.