metaphosphoric acid: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowTechnical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “metaphosphoric acid” mean?
A glassy, solid inorganic acid, (HPO₃)ₙ, formed by heating phosphoric acid and used as a dehydrating agent and in chemical analysis.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A glassy, solid inorganic acid, (HPO₃)ₙ, formed by heating phosphoric acid and used as a dehydrating agent and in chemical analysis.
Any of a class of polymers of phosphoric acid, typically polymeric and vitreous, with specific uses in laboratory chemistry and certain industrial processes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or use. Spelling of related terms like 'analyse/analyze' may follow regional conventions in surrounding text.
Connotations
Purely technical, neutral in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general discourse; used exclusively in chemistry contexts. Frequency is identical and very low in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “metaphosphoric acid” in a Sentence
Metaphosphoric acid is used as a [noun: dehydrating agent].The [noun: analysis] involved titration with metaphosphoric acid.He prepared a solution of metaphosphoric acid for the experiment.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “metaphosphoric acid” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The metaphosphoric acid reagent must be handled with care.
- A metaphosphoric acid extract was analysed.
American English
- The metaphosphoric acid solution is highly hygroscopic.
- Metaphosphoric acid chemistry is quite specialised.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in advanced chemistry textbooks and research papers discussing inorganic acids, phosphorus chemistry, or analytical methods.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Used in laboratory manuals, chemical supply catalogs, and procedural documentation for specific analytical techniques (e.g., stabilising ascorbic acid in solutions).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “metaphosphoric acid”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “metaphosphoric acid”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “metaphosphoric acid”
- Mispronouncing the second 'ph' as /p/ instead of /f/.
- Confusing it with the more common phosphoric acid.
- Incorrectly writing 'metaphosphic acid' (missing 'oro').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, like many concentrated acids, it is corrosive and requires proper laboratory safety handling, including gloves and eye protection.
You are only likely to encounter it in a professional chemistry laboratory, a chemical supply catalogue, or advanced chemistry literature.
In traditional inorganic chemical nomenclature, 'meta-' indicates an acid formed from another (often ortho-) acid by the removal of one molecule of water.
No, common phosphoric acid is used in food and drinks. Metaphosphoric acid is a laboratory reagent with no common food applications.
A glassy, solid inorganic acid, (HPO₃)ₙ, formed by heating phosphoric acid and used as a dehydrating agent and in chemical analysis.
Metaphosphoric acid is usually technical / scientific in register.
Metaphosphoric acid: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɛtəfɒsˈfɒrɪk ˈæsɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɛtəfɑːsˈfɔːrɪk ˈæsɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: META-morphic rock changes form. METAPHOSPHORIC acid is a CHANGED (dehydrated, polymerised) form of common phosphoric acid.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable for this highly technical term.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic that distinguishes metaphosphoric acid from common phosphoric acid?