polyphosphoric acid

British  

/ ˌpɒlɪfɒsˈfɒrɪk /

noun

1. any one of a series of oxyacids of phosphorus with the general formula H n+2 P n O 3 n+1 . The first member is pyrophosphoric acid ( n = 2) and the series includes the highly polymeric metaphosphoric acid. The higher acids exist in an equilibrium mixture

2. a glassy or liquid mixture of orthophosphoric and polyphosphoric acids: used industrially as a dehydrating agent, catalyst, and oxidizing agent

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