I understand that in phosphodiester bond formation, two hydroxl groups on the phosphate molecule bind to the 3' and 5' OH groups on two independent pentose sugars. This is a condensation reaction, so two molecules of water are released.
I am just confused about the hydroxl groups on the phosphate. From what I know, the phosphate molecule looks like this.
How is phosphate able to do a condensation reaction with two pentose sugars if it has no hydroxide groups?
Thanks a lot