calcium phosphate

noun

a phosphate of calcium; a main constituent of animal bones

• Hypernyms: ↑phosphate, ↑orthophosphate, ↑inorganic phosphate

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noun

1. : an orthophosphate of calcium: as

a. : one of the three simple orthophosphates, white or colorless when pure, usually prepared by reaction of phosphoric acid or phosphorus pentoxide with lime, hydrated lime, or limestone:

(1) : the primary phosphate CaH₄(PO₄)₂ or its monohydrate CaH₄(PO₄)₂.H₂O used in the form of superphosphate as a fertilizer and in pure form as an acid ingredient in baking powder, prepared flours, and bakery products — called also calcium dihydrogen phosphate, monobasic calcium phosphate, monocalcium phosphate

(2) : the secondary phosphate CaHPO₄ or its dihydrate CaHPO₄.2H₂O found in nature as monetite or brushite respectively and used as a mineral supplement in pharmaceutical preparations and animal feeds and as a polishing agent in tooth powders and pastes — called also calcium hydrogen phosphate, dibasic calcium phosphate, dicalcium phosphate

(3) : the tertiary phosphate Ca₃(PO₄)₂ found in nature as whitlockite and made by fusion of phosphorus pentoxide and lime or by fusion and defluorination of phosphate rock or phosphate sand for use as a fertilizer — called also tribasic calcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate

b.

(1) : a naturally occurring apatite

(2) : an industrial product consisting essentially of hydroxylapatite usually prepared by adding phosphoric acid to a lime slurry and used chiefly in ceramics, in making enamels and milk glass, as a noncaking agent especially in salt and sugar, and as a source of calcium and phosphorus in pharmaceutical preparations — called also tertiary calcium phosphate, tribasic calcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate

2. : a phosphate of calcium (as calcium metaphosphate, calcium pyrophosphate) other than an orthophosphate

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any of several phosphates of calcium occurring naturally in some rocks and in animal bones, used as a fertilizer and food additive as well as in baking powder and dentifrices.

[1865-70]

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calcium phosphate noun

A mineral salt essential in the formation of bones and teeth in animals, and for the healthy growth of plants

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Main Entry: ↑calcium

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calcium phosphate,

a compound of calcium and phosphoric acid, used in medicine and in making enamels. It is found in bones and as rock. Formula: Ca₃(PO₄)₂