Question #883ac

1 Answer
Apr 1, 2017

#12(NH_4)_2MoO_4 + H_3PO_4##(NH_4)_3PMo_12O_(40)#

(not balanced)

Explanation:

The diagram may be best:
enter image source here
Graphic from http://www.chemicalbook.com/ChemicalProductProperty_EN_CB6162083.htm

Phosphate can form complexes with many di and tri-valent metals. Note that other acids may be used for pH control other than the #HNO_3# shown in the equation. http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/aldrich/342165

This is a common colorimetric test for phosphate ions in solution, important for environmental analyses. http://slb.faculty.arizona.edu/sites/slb.faculty.arizona.edu/files/152/Phosphate.pdf

Phosphate + ammonium molybdate + ammonium metavanadate ----> colored complex.
Phosphate(V) ions react with ammonium molybdate to produce a coloured complex.
http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/content/filerepository/CMP/00/001/176/RSC RSC Phosphate by molybdate assay student.pdf