The Crystal Structure of Sodium Triphosphate Hexahydrate

Author: Dyroff, David Ray

Year: 1965

Degree: Dissertation (Ph.D.)

Advisor: Hughes, Edward Wesley

Committee Member: Unknown, Unknown

Option: Chemistry; Chemical Engineering

DOI: 10.7907/FT3A-YQ66

Abstract

The crystal structure of sodium triphosphate hexahydrate was determined by X-ray crystallographic methods. The crystals are triclinic with two Na₅P₃O₁₀.6H₂O per unit cell in space group PΤ. The structure of the anion was determined much more accurately than in other triphosphate structures done previously, and the unexpectedly large difference in length of the two types of P-O chain bond was confirmed. The P-O-P angle was 123.5°, which is closer than the previously reported values to what is observed in other kinds of phosphates. Sodium coordination is fivefold and sixfold. An unusual feature of the hydrogen bonding is that two of the phosphate oxygen atoms accept four hydrogen bonds each. Several macroscopic properties of the crystals are explained in terms of the crystal structure.

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