Pyrophosphoric acid

Names
IUPAC names Diphosphoric acid μ-oxido-bis(dihydroxidooxidophosphorus)
Other names Pyrophosphoric acid Phosphonophosphoric acid Phosphono dihydrogenphosphate
Identifiers
CAS Number	2466-09-3 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:29888 Y
ChEMBL	ChEMBL1160571 Y
ChemSpider	996 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.017.795
IUPHAR/BPS	3151
PubChem CID	1023
UNII	4E862E7GRQ Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID4075035
InChI InChI=1S/H4O7P2/c1-8(2,3)7-9(4,5)6/h(H2,1,2,3)(H2,4,5,6) Y Key: XPPKVPWEQAFLFU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/H4O7P2/c1-8(2,3)7-9(4,5)6/h(H2,1,2,3)(H2,4,5,6) Key: XPPKVPWEQAFLFU-UHFFFAOYAX
SMILES O=P(O)(O)OP(=O)(O)O
Properties
Chemical formula	H4P2O7
Molar mass	177.97 g/mol
Melting point	71.5 °C (160.7 °F; 344.6 K)
Solubility in water	Extremely soluble
Solubility	Very soluble in alcohol, ether
Conjugate base	Pyrophosphate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Y verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

Pyrophosphoric acid, also known as diphosphoric acid, is the inorganic compound with the formula H₄P₂O₇ or, more descriptively, [(HO)₂P(O)]₂O. Colorless and odorless, it is soluble in water, diethyl ether, and ethyl alcohol. The anhydrous acid crystallizes in two polymorphs, which melt at 54.3 and 71.5 °C. The compound is a component of polyphosphoric acid, an important source of phosphoric acid.^[1] Anions, salts, and esters of pyrophosphoric acid are called pyrophosphates.

Preparation

It can be prepared by reaction of phosphoric acid with phosphoryl chloride:^[2]

5 H₃PO₄ + POCl₃ → 3 H₄P₂O₇ + 3 HCl

It can also be prepared by ion exchange from sodium pyrophosphate or by treating lead pyrophosphate with hydrogen sulfide.^[1]

Boiling the water from orthophosphoric acid will not dehydrate it to pure pyrophosphoric acid, instead a mixture of ortho, pyro, and polyphosphoric acids are produced, the maximum pyrophosphoric acid concentration remains below 50% and occurs slightly before what would otherwise be pure pyrophosphoric acid.^[3]

Reactions

Pyrophosphoric acid is a tetraprotic acid, with four distinct pKa's:^[4]

H₄P₂O₇ ⇌ [H₃P₂O₇]⁻ + H⁺, pKa = 0.85

[H₃P₂O₇]⁻ ⇌ [H₂P₂O₇]²⁻ + H⁺, pKa = 1.96

[H₂P₂O₇]²⁻ ⇌ [HP₂O₇]³⁻ + H⁺, pKa = 6.60

[HP₂O₇]³⁻ ⇌ [P₂O₇]⁴⁻ + H⁺, pKa = 9.41

The pKa's occur in two distinct ranges because deprotonations occur on separate phosphate groups. For comparison with the pKa's for phosphoric acid are 2.14, 7.20, and 12.37.

At physiological pH's, pyrophosphate exists as a mixture of doubly and singly protonated forms.

When molten, pyrophosphoric acid rapidly converts to an equilibrium mixture of phosphoric acid, pyrophosphoric acid and polyphosphoric acids. The percentage by weight of pyrophosphoric acid is around 40% and it is difficult to recrystallise from the melt.

Even in cold water, pyrophosphoric acid hydrolyses to phosphoric acid. All polyphosphoric acids behave similarly.^[5]

H₄P₂O₇ + H₂O → 2 H₃PO₄

Safety

While pyrophosphoric acid is corrosive, it is not known to be otherwise toxic.^[6]

History

The name pyrophosphoric acid was given by a "Mr. Clarke of Glasgow" in 1827 who is credited with its discovery following the heating to red heat of a sodium phosphate salt. It was found that phosphoric acid when heated to red heat formed pyrophosphoric acid that was readily converted to phosphoric acid by hot water.^[7]