phosphorus pentoxide
[ pen-tok-sahyd, -sid ]
/ pɛnˈtɒk saɪd, -sɪd /
noun Chemistry.
a white, deliquescent, crystalline powder, P2O5, that, depending upon the amount of water it absorbs, forms orthophosphoric acid, metaphosphoric acid, or pyrophosphoric acid, produced by the burning of phosphorus in dry air: used in the preparation of phosphoric acids, as a drying and dehydrating agent, and in organic synthesis.
Also called
phosphoric anhydride.
Words nearby phosphorus pentoxide
phosphoroscope,
phosphorous,
phosphorous acid,
phosphorus,
phosphorus 32,
phosphorus pentoxide,
phosphorus sesquisulfide,
phosphorus trichloride,
phosphorus-32,
phosphoryl group,
phosphorylase
British Dictionary definitions for phosphorus pentoxide
phosphorus pentoxide
noun
a white odourless solid produced when phosphorus burns: has a strong affinity for water with which it forms phosphoric acids. Formula: P 2 O 5 (commonly existing as the dimer P 4 O 10)
Also called: phosphoric anhydride