All Topics  
Trisodium phosphate

 
Trisodium Phosphate

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Trisodium phosphate
 
 
  Topics Trisodium phosphate Topic Home

Trisodium phosphate (TSP), available at most hardware stores in white powder form, is a cleaning agent, stain remover and degreaser, commonly used to prepare surfaces for painting. It can also be called trisodium orthophosphate and has the chemical formula
Chemical formula

A chemical formula is a way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound, and how the relationship between those atoms changes in chemical reactions....
 Na3PO4; however, it is generally found in hydrated forms. It is a highly water-soluble ionic salt. Solution
Solution

In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of two or more substances. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent....
s of it dissolved in water have an alkaline pH
PH

pH is a measure of the Acid or Base of a solution. It is defined as the cologarithm of the Activity of dissolved hydrogen ions . Hydrogen ion activity coefficients cannot be measured experimentally, so they are based on theoretical calculations....
.

Other sodium phosphates
Sodium phosphates

Sodium phosphate is a generic term for the salt s of sodium and phosphate. They are:* Monosodium phosphate * Disodium phosphate * Trisodium phosphate ...
, sometimes known by E number
E number

E numbers are number codes for food additives and are usually found on food labels throughout the European Union. The numbering scheme follows that of the International Numbering System as determined by the Codex Alimentarius committee....
 E339, are food additives and used as an acidity regulator
Acidity regulator

Acidity regulators, or pH control agents, are food additives added to change or maintain pH . They can be organic acid or mineral acid acids, base , neutralization agents, or buffering agents....
 (buffering agent
Buffering agent

A buffering agent adjusts the pH of a solution. The function of a buffering agent is to drive an acidic or basic solution to a certain pH state and prevent a change in this pH....
), emulsifier, thickening agent
Thickening agent

Thickening agents, or thickeners, are substances which, when added to an aqueous mixture, increase its viscosity without substantially modifying its other properties, such as taste....
, nutrition enlargement agent and sequestrant
Sequestrant

A sequestrant is a food additive whose role is to improve the quality and stability of the food products. Sequestrants form chelate complexes with polyvalent metal ions....
 (metal-chelating
Chelation

Chelation is the binding or complex of a bi- or multidentate ligand. These ligands, which are often organic compounds, are called chelants, chelators, chelating agents, or sequestration....
 agent).






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Trisodium phosphate'
Start a new discussion about 'Trisodium phosphate'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


Trisodium phosphate (TSP), available at most hardware stores in white powder form, is a cleaning agent, stain remover and degreaser, commonly used to prepare surfaces for painting. It can also be called trisodium orthophosphate and has the chemical formula
Chemical formula

A chemical formula is a way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound, and how the relationship between those atoms changes in chemical reactions....
 Na3PO4; however, it is generally found in hydrated forms. It is a highly water-soluble ionic salt. Solution
Solution

In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of two or more substances. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent....
s of it dissolved in water have an alkaline pH
PH

pH is a measure of the Acid or Base of a solution. It is defined as the cologarithm of the Activity of dissolved hydrogen ions . Hydrogen ion activity coefficients cannot be measured experimentally, so they are based on theoretical calculations....
.

Other sodium phosphates
Sodium phosphates

Sodium phosphate is a generic term for the salt s of sodium and phosphate. They are:* Monosodium phosphate * Disodium phosphate * Trisodium phosphate ...
, sometimes known by E number
E number

E numbers are number codes for food additives and are usually found on food labels throughout the European Union. The numbering scheme follows that of the International Numbering System as determined by the Codex Alimentarius committee....
 E339, are food additives and used as an acidity regulator
Acidity regulator

Acidity regulators, or pH control agents, are food additives added to change or maintain pH . They can be organic acid or mineral acid acids, base , neutralization agents, or buffering agents....
 (buffering agent
Buffering agent

A buffering agent adjusts the pH of a solution. The function of a buffering agent is to drive an acidic or basic solution to a certain pH state and prevent a change in this pH....
), emulsifier, thickening agent
Thickening agent

Thickening agents, or thickeners, are substances which, when added to an aqueous mixture, increase its viscosity without substantially modifying its other properties, such as taste....
, nutrition enlargement agent and sequestrant
Sequestrant

A sequestrant is a food additive whose role is to improve the quality and stability of the food products. Sequestrants form chelate complexes with polyvalent metal ions....
 (metal-chelating
Chelation

Chelation is the binding or complex of a bi- or multidentate ligand. These ligands, which are often organic compounds, are called chelants, chelators, chelating agents, or sequestration....
 agent). Sodium phosphate enemas are sold over-the-counter in the United States, as a laxative
Laxative

Laxatives are foods, compounds, or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool, most often taken to treat constipation. Certain stimulant, lubricant, and saline laxatives are used to evacuate the Colon for rectum and bowel examinations, and may be supplemented by enemas in that circumstance....
 to treat constipation
Constipation

Constipation, costiveness, or irregularity, is a condition of the digestive system in which a person experiences hard feces that are difficult to expel....
. However, these should not be confused with the related compounds sodium dihydrogen phosphate, also known as monosodium phosphate or MSP, and disodium phosphate
Disodium phosphate

Disodium hydrogen phosphate is a sodium salt of phosphoric acid. It is a white powder that is highly hygroscopic and water soluble. It is therefore used commercially as an anti-caking additive in powdered products....
.

TSP for cleaning

Trisodium Phosphate Hydrate
Similar chemicals were once common in laundry
Laundry

Laundry is the act of washing clothing and linens....
 and dishwashing
Dishwasher

A dishwasher is a mechanical device for cleaning dishware and cutlerys. Dishwashers can be found in restaurants and private homes....
 detergent
Detergent

A detergent is a material intended to assist cleaning. The term is sometimes used to differentiate between soap and other surfactants used for cleaning....
s, but the phosphate
Phosphate

A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a Salt of phosphoric acid. Inorganic phosphates are mining to obtain phosphorus for use in agriculture and industry....
, being a fertilizer
Fertilizer

Fertilizers are chemical compounds given to plants to promote growth; they are usually applied either through the soil, for uptake by plant roots, or by foliar feeding, for uptake through leaves....
, would cause algal bloom
Algal bloom

An algal bloom is a rapid increase in the population of algae in an aquatic system. Algal blooms may occur in freshwater as well as marine environments....
s in the bodies of water into which the drains led. In the early 1970s the use of phosphate-containing products was limited. Now products sold as , containing 80–90% sodium carbonate
Sodium carbonate

Sodium carbonate , , is a sodium salt of carbonic acid. It most commonly occurs as a crystalline heptahydrate, which readily efflorescence to form a white powder, the monohydrate....
, are promoted as a direct substitute.

Cleaning products labeled as TSP may contain other ingredients as well, and may in fact be less than half TSP. So even "regular" TSP found at the hardware store may be half TSP and half "TSP substitute".

Although it is the active ingredient in at least one toilet bowl cleaning tablet, TSP is generally not good for cleaning bathrooms because it can corrode metal.

TSP is commonly used after cleaning with mineral spirits
Mineral spirits

Mineral Spirits, also called Stoddard solvent [CAS 8052-41-3], is a petroleum distilate commonly used as a paint thinner and mild solvent. Outside of the United States and Canada, it is referred to as white spirit....
 in order to then clean up all the mineral spirits. TSP may be used with household chlorine bleach
Sodium hypochlorite

Sodium hypochlorite is a chemical compound with the chemical formula NaClO. Sodium hypochlorite solution, commonly known as bleach, is frequently used as a disinfectant or a bleaching agent....
 in the same solution, and this is particularly good for removing mildew
Mildew

Mildew refers to certain kinds of mold or fungus. In Old English, it meant honeydew , and later came to mean mildew in the modern senses.*The term mildew is often used generically to refer to mold growth, usually with a flat growth habit....
 from wood. The TSP alone can cause dark stains on redwood
Sequoia

Sequoia sempervirens is the sole living species of the genus Sequoia in the cypress family Cupressaceae . Common names include Coast Redwood and California Redwood ....
, and bleach prevents it.

TSP is used in various forms as a boiler treatment chemical for calcium precipitation, and also to regulate the caustic effects of disodium phosphate
Disodium phosphate

Disodium hydrogen phosphate is a sodium salt of phosphoric acid. It is a white powder that is highly hygroscopic and water soluble. It is therefore used commercially as an anti-caking additive in powdered products....
 in coordinated phosphate chemistry.

External links