Precipitate

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Precipitate (pronounced: pre-sip-i-tate) is a term used in Chemistry and Medicine to describe the process or result of a substance being separated from a solution.

Etymology

The term originates from the Latin word "praecipitare" which means "to throw or rush headlong". In the context of chemistry, it was first used in the 1580s to describe the act of making a substance settle in a solid form from a solution.

Chemistry

In Chemistry, a precipitate is a solid that forms in a solution during a Chemical reaction. The formation of a precipitate can be an indication of the occurrence of a chemical reaction. If the solution was clear before the reaction, the formation of a precipitate will often make the solution cloudy.

Medicine

In Medicine, precipitate can refer to a substance separated from a bodily fluid through a similar process. For example, in Urine analysis, a precipitate of salts can form when the urine is allowed to stand. This can be used as a diagnostic tool to detect certain medical conditions.

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