The hydrolysis of peroxophosphates

Abstract

The hydrolysis of peroxodiphosphoric acid has been studied in the pH range 0–7·6 and the dependence of velocity constant on ionic strength determined over a range 1·6–3·8. The hydrolysis of peroxomonophosphoric acid has been studied in more acid solution. In any given solution peroxodiphosphate exists in several forms with differing degrees of protonation, and the results obtained can be explained if the rate of the hydrolysis of each form has its own specific velocity constant. Because of the multiple equilibria existing between different protonated forms it is not possible to determine the exact nature of the transition state complex from the kinetic data.