Metaphosphoric acid is a clear, colorless, and viscous liquid with the molecular formula HPO3. It is widely used in the food industry as a preservative and stabilizer for dairy products, meat, and fish. Despite its importance, some people might find it difficult to use the word metaphosphoric acid in their communication, thus the need for synonyms.
Some common synonyms for metaphosphoric acid include tetrametaphosphoric acid, pyrophosphoric acid, and tripolyphosphoric acid. Other synonyms include phosphoric anhydride, metaphosphate acid, cyclophosphoric acid, and pentaphosphoric acid. The use of synonyms makes it easy to communicate about a particular compound and helps to avoid confusion amongst people who might have different scientific backgrounds.