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Glite Dictionary
sodium phosphate

sodium phosphate

1 3.7
A white salt used as a laxative and in cleaners, food processing, and water treatment
  • noun
  • /ˈsoʊdiəm ˈfɑːsfeɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fosfato de sodio
  • For the experiment, we used sodium phosphate as a cleaning agent to remove dirt from the glassware.

Examples

  • Intravenous dexamethasone sodium phosphate was administered (0.25 mg per kg q6 hours), and she was extubated on day 21.

    Academic text (1995)

  • The discussion also assumes the phosphorus is present as a soluble material like sodium phosphate (Na3PO4).

    Academic text (1998)

  • The doctor prescribed sodium phosphate to help relieve the patient's constipation.

  • In water treatment, sodium phosphate is often added to prevent mineral buildup in pipes.

Synonyms

sodium orthophosphate
vssodium phosphate
  • Specialized
7.6

A chemical used as a laxative and for cleaning or other industrial uses

is broader, including that salt and other related phosphate forms
tribasic sodium phosphate
vssodium phosphate
  • Specialized
6.8

A white chemical salt that softens water and helps remove dirt in detergents

includes that exact compound but also other related phosphate salts and uses
trisodium orthophosphate
vssodium phosphate
  • Specialized
9.5

A chemical used in soaps and cleaning products to help them clean

covers that industrial role but also applies to medical and other phosphate forms
trisodium phosphate
vssodium phosphate
  • Specialized
6.0

A white powder that cleans heavy dirt and grease in soaps and cleaners

also covers cleaning uses but extends to medical and broader phosphate types

Surface Forms

sodium phosphate singular
sodium phosphates plural

Morphology

sodium + phosphate

The phrase is a straightforward chemical compound name built from the constituents 'sodium' and 'phosphate', so a learner who knows those words can infer it denotes a salt containing sodium and phosphate. Chemical naming of this form is cross-linguistically common and follows predictable composition rules, even if a B1 learner might not know the exact formula or specific uses.

Etymology

Sodium phosphate is a chemical name that tells you its parts: sodium (the metal in table salt) and phosphate (a part made from phosphorus and oxygen). Together they form a white 'salt' used for cleaning, in some foods, and as a 'laxative', so the name shows what the substance is and why it is used.