Strontium phosphate
Strontium phosphate is the phosphate salt of strontium, with the molecular formula Sr32. It is a white solid insoluble in water.
Preparation and properties
Strontium phosphate is commonly produced by the reaction of soluble strontium compounds, such as strontium nitrate, and a phosphate source, such as phosphoric acid or tripotassium phosphate, in water, resulting in a white precipitate of the tetrahydrate:Under water, the tetrahydrate slowly hydrolyses to strontium hydroxyapatite 6. The tetrahydrate decomposes to the anhydrous form when heated to 900 °C.
The anhydrous form can be produced without the presence of water, to avoid hydrolysis, by the heating of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate and strontium carbonate at 1030 °C and 30 MPa of pressure.