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Phosphonium
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Chemistry/SrNqkGVm">chemistry</a>, the term phosphonium (more obscurely: phosphinium) describes <a href="/facts/Polyatomic_ion/FcPWAyLm">polyatomic cations</a> with the <a href="/facts/Chemical_formula/hghUtthl">chemical formula</a> <a href="/facts/Phosphorus/27xCeIqs">P</a>R+4 (where R is a <a href="/facts/Hydrogen/BoYHjl0J">hydrogen</a> or an <a href="/facts/Alkyl/vmEk8X4v">alkyl</a>, <a href="/facts/Aryl/M3z7QRXd">aryl</a>, <a href="/facts/Organyl/gqCNaN45">organyl</a> or <a href="/facts/Halogen/YeFgWHeA">halogen</a> group). These cations have <a href="/facts/Tetrahedral_molecular_geometry/583AL1sP">tetrahedral structures</a>. The <a href="/facts/Salt_(chemistry)/lsSKwGpn">salts</a> are generally colorless or take the color of the anions. </p>