多酸是指多个金属含氧酸分子，如钼酸、钒酸等，通过脱水缩合成含氧酸簇状化合物。其中心元素以5族元素/6族元素为主，比如钼、钨、钒、铌、钽等，每个金属原子和氧元素形成配位多面体（以六配位八面体为常见），然后各多面体通过公用氧原子形成较大的堆砌结构，即多酸类化合物。上述金属原子的配位多面体有很强的缩聚倾向，因此可以形成非常庞大的无机阴离子，例如{Mo368}分子、{Mo176}分子（如图）。

正因为这些金属原子的配位多面体有很强的缩聚倾向，多酸可以容纳个别的其它含氧酸多面体，形成其它复杂多酸结构（杂多酸）。元素周期表中大部分元素均可作为杂原子与前过渡元素组成杂多酸，如PO₄四面体被12个钼氧六面体包裹形成如磷钼酸铵等分子。

In chemistry, a polyoxometalate (abbreviated POM) is a polyatomic ion, usually an anion, that consists of three or more transition metal oxyanions linked together by shared oxygen atoms to form closed 3-dimensional frameworks. The metal atoms are usually group 6 (Mo, W) or less commonly group 5 (V, Nb, Ta) transition metals in their high oxidation states. They are usually colorless or orange, diamagnetic anions. Two broad families are recognized, isopolymetalates, composed of only one kind of metal and oxide, and heteropolymetalates, composed of one metal, oxide, and a main group oxyanion (phosphate, silicate, etc). Many exceptions to these general statements exist.