8667. Sodium Polymetaphosphate

Nomenclature

CAS number: 50813-16-6
Graham's salt; “sodium hexametaphosphate”; glassy sodium metaphosphate; Hy-Phos.

Description and references

(NaPO3)x. A mixture of polymeric metaphosphates; not a hexamer. Prepd by rapidly chilling molten sodium metaphosphate: Bell, Inorg. Synth. 3, 103 (1950). Reviews: see Sodium Metaphosphate.

Properties

Clear, hygroscopic glass. mp 628°. Sol in water, but dissolves slowly. Depolymerizes in aqueous soln to form sodium trimetaphosphate and sodium orthophosphates.

Derivative

Sodium hexametaphosphate detergents.

Nomenclature

Calgon; Giltex; Quadrafos; Hagan phosphate; Micromet.

Properties

Mixtures contg Graham's salt as the principal agent. Supplied in the form of a powder, flakes, and as small, broken, glass-like particles. Sol in water (pH adjusted to 8-8.6). Insol in organic solvents. Possess dispersing and deflocculating properties, coagulate albumins, and inhibit the crystn of slightly sol compds such as calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate.

Use

Water softeners and detergents. For leather tanning, dyeing, laundry work, textile processing; for the “threshold treatment” of softening industrial water supplies.