phosphoric acid


nounChemistry.
  1. any of three acids, orthophosphoric acid, H3PO4, metaphosphoric acid, HPO3, or pyrophosphoric acid, H4P2O7, derived from phosphorus pentoxide, P2O5, and various amounts of water.

Origin of phosphoric acid

1
First recorded in 1785–95

Words Nearby phosphoric acid

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How to use phosphoric acid in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for phosphoric acid

phosphoric acid

noun
  1. Also called: orthophosphoric acid a colourless solid tribasic acid used in the manufacture of fertilizers and soap. Formula: H 3 PO 4: Systematic name: phosphoric(V) acid

  2. any oxyacid of phosphorus produced by reaction between phosphorus pentoxide and water: See also metaphosphoric acid, pyrophosphoric acid, hypophosphoric acid

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

Scientific definitions for phosphoric acid

phosphoric acid

[ fŏs-fôrĭk ]


  1. A clear liquid, or a solid that forms colorless, rhombus-shaped crystals, that is used in fertilizers, detergents, food flavoring, and pharmaceuticals. Chemical formula: H3PO4.

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