Tungstates
Tungstates
salts of tungstic acid. There are normal tungstates—the salts of H2WO4 (such as H2O·WO3)— and polytungstates—salts of polyacids with the general formula .xH2O · y WO3, which are not separated out in the free state. Polytungstates conform to the general formula xMe2O · yWO3 (where x < y); their nomenclature is complicated (metatungstates, paratungstates, and others). Several normal tungstates have practical uses—for example, Na2WO4, CaWO4, and ammonia paratungstate 5(NH4)2O · 12WO3 · 11H2O. Tungstates are used in the textile and paint and varnish industries and in X-ray technology.