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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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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If polyphosphoric acid is added to the mix, the reaction takes place at only 160� F., well below the boiling point of water.

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