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polyphosphoric acid

/ 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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Example Sentences

When he heated a mixture of amino acids with polyphosphoric acid as a catalyst, he got big molecules with many of the properties of proteins, i.e., they have similar chemical characteristics, are digested by natural enzymes and are eaten greedily by bacteria.

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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polyphonypolyphyletic