sodium pyrophosphate

6.7

A chemical used in soaps and detergents to help them clean and in foods to improve texture

noun
/ˈsoʊdiəm ˌpaɪrəˈfɔsfeɪt/

Specialized

: pirofosfato de sodio

Many detergents contain sodium pyrophosphate as a builder.

Examples

You should check if your dishwashing powder includes sodium pyrophosphate among its ingredients.
Some detergents contain sodium pyrophosphate to enhance their cleaning effectiveness.
The food industry sometimes uses sodium pyrophosphate as an emulsifier and texturizer in processed foods.
The formula for sodium pyrophosphate is Na2H2P2O7.
Some detergents contain sodium pyrophosphate to enhance their cleaning effectiveness.
You should check if your dishwashing powder includes sodium pyrophosphate among its ingredients.
Many detergents contain sodium pyrophosphate as a builder.

Synonyms

tetrasodium pyrophosphate

vssodium pyrophosphate

Specialized

8.7

A powder used in toothpaste, food, and detergents to control tartar and soften water

refers to the sodium salt used mainly as a builder without focusing on softening

Surface Forms

sodium pyrophosphate singular

sodium pyrophosphates plural

Morphology

sodium + pyrophosphate

The compound name is compositionally built from the constituents: 'sodium' (a metal cation) plus 'pyrophosphate' (the anionic chemical group), so the phrase denotes the sodium salt of pyrophosphate. Chemical naming conventions are regular and similar across languages, so a learner who knows both constituent meanings can reasonably infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Sodium pyrophosphate is a simple chemical name: sodium means a common 'salt' and pyrophosphate refers to phosphate pieces that were once joined by heat, so the name gives a picture of a linked phosphate salt. Today that 'salt' is used in soaps and detergents because it helps water lift away dirt, so the name reminds you it is a cleaning helper.