A Keggin-type heteropoly acid revealed high catalytic activity for the etherification such as diethylene glycol with ethanol and cyclization of diethylene glycol in the homogeneous liquid. The catalytic activities of the heteropoly acid were much higher than those of conventional acid catalysts such as sulfuric acid, p-toluene sulfonic acid and phosphorous acid at the same catalyst concentrations or the same proton concentrations. On the basis of comparative measurement of electrical conductivity, acidity, and softness of anion for the solutions of acid catalysts, the efficient acid catalysis by heteropoly acid was suggested to due to be the specific properties of the heteropoly anion, which can be characterized by very weak basicity and great softness, together with the large size of the polyhedral structure.