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Glite Dictionary
inorganic phosphate

inorganic phosphate

5.5
A salt containing phosphorus but not carbon, found in living bodies, soil, or factories
  • noun
  • /ˌɪnɔrˈgænɪk ˈfɔsfeɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fosfato inorgánico
  • In the 13% of patients who did require calcium supplementation, however, the serum inorganic phosphate level increased from a mean of 3.8 mg/dl preoperatively to a mean of 4.5 mg/dl 24 hours after surgery.
  • inorganic phosphate levels
  • Serum inorganic phosphate

Examples

  • Serum concentrations of calcium, both protein-bound and free, magnesium, and inorganic phosphate were measured in all patients.

    Academic text (1996)

  • SeaQuest is a granular blend of complex inorganic phosphates that, when added to drinking water, both surface and ground water, will supply corrosion control for distribution systems.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Serum inorganic phosphate levels were also studied in all patients.

    Academic text (1996)

  • We also monitored inorganic phosphate and magnesium levels after thyroid surgery.

    Academic text (1996)

  • In 87% of patients who required no calcium supplementation, no change was seen in the level of serum inorganic phosphate.

    Academic text (1996)

  • In 87% of patients who required no calcium supplementation, no change was seen in the level of serum inorganic phosphate.

  • We also monitored inorganic phosphate and magnesium levels after thyroid surgery.

  • Serum concentrations of calcium, both protein-bound and free, magnesium, and inorganic phosphate were measured in all patients.

Synonyms

phosphate
vsinorganic phosphate
  • Specialized
20 4.0

A salt used in fertilizers to help plants grow and in some foods

is the inorganic salt form not bonded to carbon
orthophosphate
vsinorganic phosphate
  • Specialized
1 8.8

A simple form of phosphorus used in fertilizers and ceramics

is the salt form not bonded to carbon, not an organic ester

Surface Forms

inorganic phosphate singular
inorganic phosphates plural

Morphology

inorganic + phosphate

The meaning is directly compositional: 'inorganic' (not containing carbon) modifies 'phosphate' (a salt/ester of phosphoric acid), so the phrase denotes a phosphate that is not organic. This literal modifier-noun structure is cross-linguistically common and therefore a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Inorganic phosphate comes from two simple ideas: phosphate is the phosphorus part and inorganic means 'not made of carbon'. So inorganic phosphate is a phosphate that is not attached to carbon, which is why the term is used for the free phosphate found in blood, soil, and fertilizers.