Main Entry: phosphoric acid

Function: noun

1 : a syrupy or deliquescent tribasic acid H₃PO₄ used especially in preparing phosphates (as for fertilizers), in rust-proofing metals, and especially formerly as a flavoring in soft drinks—called also orthophosphoric acid
2 : a compound (as pyrophosphoric acid or metaphosphoric acid) consisting of phosphate groups linked directly to each other by oxygen