THE HYDROLYSIS OF THE CONDENSED PHOSPHATES: II (A). THE ROLE OF THE HYDROGEN ION IN THE HYDROLYSIS OF SODIUM PYROPHOSPHATE: II (B). THE DISSOCIATION CONSTANTS OF PYROPHOSPHORIC ACID

Abstract

The general rate equations for the hydrolysis of pyrophosphate anion proposed by Muus have been proved to be inapplicable over the pH range 2.0 to 11.0. A general rate equation is proposed which is based on the assumption that each anionic species of pyrophosphoric acid hydrolyzes at a rate which depends on its concentration, and that the only role of the hydrogen ion concentration is to determine the proportion of each species present in the solution. A mechanism for the hydrolysis of pyrophosphate anion is suggested.The dissociation constants of pyrophosphoric acid have been determined at 65.5 °C. for the concentration range 0.08 to 0.18 molar.