Hydrolysis of the phosphorus sulphides: tetraphosphorus decasulphide and tetraphosphorus tetrasulphide hexaoxide

Abstract

The molecular distribution of phosphorus after hydrolysis of P₄S₁₀ and P₄O₆S₄ in 1·0M-hydrochloric acid and 1·0M-sodium hydroxide at 100° has been determined by use of anion-exchange chromatography as the method of molecular analysis. In acid solution hydrolysis to monophosphate is rapid, but in alkaline solution replacement of terminal sulphur by oxygen is slower and after an hour most phosphorus is present as a thio-anion. The important hydrolysis products after an hour are mono- and di-thiophosphates for P₄S₁₀, and monothiophosphate together with two anions tentatively identified as mono- and di-thiodiphosphates for P₄O₆S₄.