Physico-Chemical Properties of Condensed Inorganic

3 Physico-Chemical Properties of Condensed Inorganic Polyphosphates 

Apart from the low-molecular-weight polyphosphates and cyclophosphates, condensed inorganic phosphates are macromolecular compounds, and this affects their properties and behaviour in solution. 

Polyphosphates in aqueous solutions of low ionic strength are capable of forming complexes with other polymers, especially proteins (Katchman and Van Wazer, 1954), basic polypeptides (Singh, 1964), arid nucleic acids (Kulaev and Belozersky, 1958 Ebel et al, 1958c). This ability increases as the chain length of the polyphosphate molecule increases. In acidic solution, these complexes separate as precipitates. The ability of condensed 

Linear polyphosphates possess properties very similar to those of cross-linked, solid ion-exchange agents (Thilo, 1955). The behavior of polyphosphates as dissolved ion-exchange agents is yet further evidence of their ability to form complexes with counter-ions. Polyphosphates are known to be very good complexing agents for many metal ions (Van Wazer, 1958). This property is widely exploited in the fractionation of polyphosphates, and for other analytical purposes. 

The information given above concerning the chemical and physico-chemical properties of the inorganic polyphosphates will assist in the better understanding and prediction of the behaviour of these compounds during their extraction from cells and their subsequent fractionation. Knowledge of these properties will facilitate the development and use of efficient and reliable biochemical procedures for the isolation, purification, identification and determination of polyphosphates. 

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Physico-chemical properties of condensed inorganic polyphosphates... 

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