where n may for example be an integer or have a value giving the polymer a molecular weight of about 3,000; and sodium poly (butene-4,4-diphosphonate) having units of the formula: ##STR5## poly (allyl bis (phosphonoethyl) amine) having units of the formula: ##STR6## Other phosphonated polymers, for example poly (allyl phosphono acetate), phosphonated polymethacrylate, etc. and the geminal diphosph