Triphosphates and longer chain structures

With triphosphate, both aqueous solutions and crystalline material may decompose to form more pyrophosphate than predicted for end-group clipping. Rates in solution which are more closely fitted by a second-order than by a first-order expression, and a change of activation energy (41.5 to 18.4 kcal. mole at 110 °C may both be related to this process. The process bears at least a formal relationship to the reorganization of higher chain phosphates. 

Other work has dealt with improved methods of paper chromatography, by use of which the hydrolysis of sodium tetraphosphate is shown to be more adequately represented by consecutive formation of tri- and pyrophosphate ions than was previously thought, and with a kinetic investigation of the hydrolysis. 

Kinetic measurements on the systems just described have been used to provide evidence for the structures of the branched ultraphosphates .  

Many papers dealing with tri- and tetrameta-phosphate hydrolysis in acidic and alkaline solutions have appeared. It is clearly established that hydrolysis in acidic solutions is faster than that in alkaline 

The primary product of the hydrolysis of P4O10 has been confirmed as the tetrametaphosphate anion. 

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