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Glite Dictionary
triphosphoric acid

triphosphoric acid

9.1
An acid formed by joining three phosphoric acid molecules, usually found as salts or esters
  • noun
  • /traɪˈfɒsfərɪk ˈæsɪd/
  • Specialized
: ácido triphosfórico
  • Many industrial cleaners contain salts derived from triphosphoric acid for water softening.

Examples

  • Researchers are investigating the potential uses of triphosphoric acid esters in biochemistry.

  • The laboratory synthesized triphosphoric acid to study its properties under high temperatures.

  • The laboratory synthesized triphosphoric acid for the experiment.

  • Many fertilizers contain triphosphoric acid derivatives.

  • Many industrial cleaners contain salts derived from triphosphoric acid for water softening.

  • Researchers are investigating the potential uses of triphosphoric acid esters in biochemistry.

  • The laboratory synthesized triphosphoric acid to study its properties under high temperatures.

Surface Forms

triphosphoric acid singular
triphosphoric acids plural

Morphology

triphosphoric + acid

The term is compositionally built (tri- = three + phosphoric = relating to phosphoric acid) so a learner who recognises those morphemes could infer it denotes an acid involving three phosphoric units; however the precise chemical sense (partial anhydride, salts/esters) is technical and not fully predictable without domain knowledge. Cross-linguistically similar formation (e.g. Spanish 'tripofosfórico') makes the basic numeric+chemical logic transparent, but the specialised meaning reduces full transparency for a general B1 learner.

Etymology

The name triphosphoric acid comes from its parts: tri- means 'three' and phosphoric acid is the acid part. It literally names an acid made of three linked 'phosphoric acid' parts, so remembering that 'tri' means 'three' helps you remember the word's meaning.