phosphorus pentoxide

American  

[pen-tok-sahyd, -sid] / pɛnˈtɒk saɪd, -sɪd /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a white, deliquescent, crystalline powder, P 2 O 5 , that, depending upon the amount of water it absorbs, forms orthophosphoric acid, metaphosphoric acid, or pyrophosphoric acid, produced by the burning of phosphorus in dry air: used in the preparation of phosphoric acids, as a drying and dehydrating agent, and in organic synthesis.

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phosphorus pentoxide British  

noun

1. Also called: phosphoric anhydride.  a white odourless solid produced when phosphorus burns: has a strong affinity for water with which it forms phosphoric acids. Formula: P 2 O 5 (commonly existing as the dimer P 4 O 10 )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

phosphorus pentoxide

The phosphorus pentoxide used to produce phosphoric acid for cola soft drinks is prepared by burning phosphorus in oxygen.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

Most artificial smokes, Miss Raskin explained, are made of fairly heavy materials such as phosphorus pentoxide or petroleum oils.

From Time Magazine Archive

Maleic anhydride is obtained by distilling fumaric acid with phosphorus pentoxide.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3 "Frost" to "Fyzabad" by Various

When a lubricant is wanted that will withstand the action of ether, the tap may be lubricated by sprinkling phosphorus pentoxide upon it, and exposing it to air till the oxide becomes gummy.

From The Methods of Glass Blowing and of Working Silica in the Oxy-Gas Flame For the use of chemical and physical students by Shenstone, W. A.

This is easily done in the case of electrometer jars, and so long as the air remains perfectly dry through the action of sulphuric acid or phosphorus pentoxide, the jar will insulate.

From On Laboratory Arts by Threlfall, Richard