Definition

A chemical compound that is a salt or an ester derived from pyrophosphoric acid, often used in various biochemical processes.

Example

The laboratory used pyrophosphate to enhance the reaction rate in the experiment.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of pyrophosphate?

No, I haven't! What is it?

It's a salt or an ester of pyrophosphoric acid, used in various applications.

That sounds interesting! I wonder where it’s commonly found.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Pyrophosphate is formed from "pyro-" (from Greek "pur", meaning fire) and "phosphate" (from Greek "phosphoros", meaning light-bearing or phosphorus). The term refers to a compound that is related to phosphorus and is often associated with heat or fire in its formation.

Memory Tip

Think of 'fire' ('pyro-') and 'light-bearing' ('phosphate') to remember that pyrophosphate is a compound related to phosphorus that can be formed through heat.

Visually Confused Words