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.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg