Thermodynamic Solubility Product of Human Tooth Enamel: Powdered Sample

Abstract

Solubility of human dental enamel in H 3 PO 4 was studied in the pH range of 4.5 to 7.6. Thermodynamic solubility of the enamel mineral was calculated in terms of the ion activity product, (Ca 2+ ) 5 (PO 4 3- ) 3 (OH-), for hydroxyapatite. The solubility product varied from 7.2 × 10 -53 to 6.4 × 10-58 mol9 liter -9 depending on the cumulative amount of the dissolution of the solid in a series of repetitive sequences of solubility experiments.