Abstract: | The stabilities of the hydrated uranyl phosphates (UO2)3(PO4)2 · 4 H2O, UO2HPO4 · 4 H2O, and UO2(H2PO4) · 3 H2O have been reinvestigated. The compounds identified by thermal analysis have been prepared isothermally and characterized by their strongest X-ray reflections. During dehydration, oxygen was not evolved and the crystalline compounds (UO2)3(PO4)2, (UO2)2P2O7, UO2(PO3)2, and probably (UO2)3P4O)13 were found. At still higher temperatures, the uranyl phosphates are reduced. The decomposition products lose phosphorus oxide above 1300–1400°C. The present results are summarized in a tentative pseudo-binary phase diagram UOx(x = 3 to 2)—UO2(PO3)2. |