Editing Phosphorus (section)

====Polyphosphates====
Phosphate exhibits a tendency to form chains and rings containing P-O-P bonds. Many polyphosphates are known, including [[Adenosine triphosphate|ATP]]. Polyphosphates arise by dehydration of hydrogen phosphates such as {{chem2|HPO4(2-)}} and {{chem2|H2PO4-}}. For example, the industrially important pentasodium triphosphate (also known as [[sodium tripolyphosphate]], STPP) is produced industrially by the megatonne by this [[condensation reaction]]:
:{{chem2|2 Na2HPO4 + NaH2PO4 -> Na5P3O10 + 2 H2O}}
Sodium triphosphate is used in laundry detergents in some countries, but banned for this use in others.{{r|Hammond2000}} This compound [[water softening|softens]] the water to enhance the performance of the detergents and to prevent pipe and boiler tube [[corrosion]].{{r|Schrödter2008}}