Precipitation (chemistry)

In an <a href="/facts/Aqueous_solution/eRNr3MH2">aqueous solution</a>, precipitation is the "sedimentation of a solid material (a precipitate) from a liquid solution". The solid formed is called the precipitate. In case of an inorganic chemical reaction leading to precipitation, the chemical reagent causing the solid to form is called the precipitant.
The clear liquid remaining above the precipitated or the <a href="/facts/Centrifuge/EVGu5ndv">centrifuged</a> solid phase is also called the supernate or supernatant.
The notion of precipitation can also be extended to other domains of chemistry (<a href="/facts/Organic_chemistry/djxhxaNg">organic chemistry</a> and <a href="/facts/Biochemistry/fa2pWEBp">biochemistry</a>) and even be applied to the solid phases (e.g. <a href="/facts/Metallurgy/1SANyxX4">metallurgy</a> and <a href="/facts/Alloy/I7w7WQWR">alloys</a>) when solid impurities <a href="/facts/Segregation_(materials_science)/AKY16IJa">segregate</a> from a solid phase.

Precipitation (chemistry) open-in-new

Precipitation (chemistry)