註釋 A Raman and infrared study of sodium hypophosphite is reported, which conf irms a molecular structure of C2v for the hypophosphite ion. The detection of the previously unobserved ninth fundamental in the Raman spectrum of the aqueous solution is also reported. Raman and infrared spectroscopic studies are also reported for sodium phosphite, which confirms a molecular structure of C3v for the phosphite ion, and calcium hypophosphite, which suggests a molecular structure of C2v for the hypophosphite ion. Nickel hypophosphite is also examined using Raman, Infrared and Ultraviolet spectroscopy and an ionic structure is proposed for the compound as there is no evidence for complexation in the aqueous solution. A method of preparation for nickel hypophosphite is also reported. A synthesis of the deuteriated form of sodium phosphite has been achieved and the Raman spectrum of a solution of deuteriated sodium phosphite in D2O has been obtained for the first time. A preliminary investigation of the kinetics of the alkaline decomposition of sodium hypophosphite has been carried out, including an estimation of rate constants, reaction orders and the activation energy, along with a tentative suggestion as to the nature of the reaction mechanism. 