metaphosphoric acid

[met-uh-fos-fawr-ik, -for-]

noun

Chemistry.

1. an acid, HPO 3 , derived from phosphorous pentoxide, and containing the smallest amount of water of the phosphoric acids.

metaphosphoric acid

/ ˌmɛtəfɒsˈfɒrɪk /

noun

1. a glassy deliquescent highly polymeric solid, used as a dehydrating agent. Formula: (HPO 3 ) n See also polyphosphoric acid

Word History and Origins

Origin of metaphosphoric acid¹

First recorded in 1825–35; meta- + phosphoric

Example Sentences

While the secondary phosphates, on heating, give salts of pyrophosphoric acid, the primary phosphates yield salts of metaphosphoric acid.

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These oxides often give a characteristic color to the clear borax glass, and borax beads are therefore often used in testing for the presence of metals, instead of the metaphosphoric acid bead already described.

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