A sodium phosphate is a generic variety of salts of sodium (Na⁺) and phosphate (PO3−4). Phosphate also forms families or condensed anions including di-, tri-, tetra-, and polyphosphates. Most of these salts are known in both anhydrous (water-free) and hydrated forms. The hydrates are more common than the anhydrous forms.^[1]

Sodium phosphates have many applications in food and for water treatment. For example, sodium phosphates are often used as emulsifiers (as in processed cheese),^[2] thickening agents, and leavening agents for baked goods. They are also used to control pH of processed foods.^[3] They are also used in medicine for constipation and to prepare the bowel for medical procedures. They are also used in detergents for softening water and as an efficient anti-rust solution.

Sodium phosphates are popular in commerce in part because they are inexpensive and because they are nontoxic at normal levels of consumption.^[4] However, oral sodium phosphates when taken at high doses for bowel preparation for colonoscopy may in some individuals carry a risk of kidney injury under the form of phosphate nephropathy. There are several oral phosphate formulations which are prepared extemporaneously. Oral phosphate prep drugs have been withdrawn in the United States, although evidence of causality is equivocal.^[5] Since safe and effective replacements for phosphate purgatives are available, several medical authorities have recommended general disuse of oral phosphates.^[6]

Three families of sodium monophosphates are common, those derived from orthophosphate (PO3−4), hydrogen phosphate (HPO2−4), and dihydrogenphosphate (H₂PO−4). Some of the best known salts are shown in the following table.

In addition to these phosphates, sodium forms a number of useful salts with pyrophosphates (also called diphosphates), triphosphates and high polymers. Of these salts, those of the diphosphates are particularly common commercially.

Beyond the diphosphates, sodium salts are known triphosphates, e.g. sodium triphosphate and tetraphosphates. The cyclic polyphosphates, called metaphosphates, include the trimer sodium trimetaphosphate and the tetramer, Na₃P₃O₉ and Na₄P₄O₁₂, respectively.

Polymeric sodium phosphates are formed upon heating mixtures of NaH₂PO₄ and Na₂HPO₄, which induces a condensation reaction. The specific polyphosphate generated depends on the details of the heating and annealing. One derivative is the glassy (i.e., amorphous) Graham's salt (sodium hexametaphosphate). It is a cyclic polyphosphate with the formula Na₆[(PO₃)₆]. Crystalline high molecular weight polyphosphates include Kurrol's salt and Maddrell's salt (CAS#10361-03-2). These species have the formula [NaPO₃]_n[NaPO₃(OH)]₂ where n can be as great as 2000, and it is a white powder practically insoluble in water. In terms of their structures, these polymers consist of PO−3 units, with the chains are terminated by protonated phosphates.^[1][7]