- phosphorus pentoxide
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/pen tok"suyd, -sid/, Chem.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.
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Universalium. 2010.