Meanings
comparative more polyprotic · superlative most polyprotic
- chemistryThat can donate (or accept) more than one proton; polybasic.
Many acids, however, are able to furnish more than one proton per molecule; these are known as polyprotic acids.
1946, Alexander Smith, Smith's College Chemistry, page 2672 more examples
Some important acids, such as sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) and phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) can furnish more than one proton and are called polyprotic acids.
2011, Steven S. Zumdahl, Chemistry: An Atoms First ApproachCarbonic acid from CO₂ and amino acids from proteins are examples of polyprotic acids—those having more than one acidic proton.
2012, Daniel C. Harris, Exploring Chemical Analysis, page 233
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*pleh₁-
- Proto-Indo-European*polh₁ús
- Ancient Greekπολῠ́ς (polŭ́s)
- Englishpoly-
- Proto-Indo-European*per-der.?
- Proto-Indo-European*pér
- Proto-Indo-European*pró
- Ancient Greekπρό (pró)
- Ancient Greekπρῶτον (prôton)
- Englishproton
- Englishprotic
- Englishpolyprotic
Translations
Dutch meerwaardig
- meerwaardigable to donate more than one proton
Hungarian többértékű
- többértékűable to donate more than one proton
Italian poliprotico
- poliproticoable to donate more than one proton
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
polyprotic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polyprotic
“polyprotic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polyprotic. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “polyprotic,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polyprotic.
Source: polyprotic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.