In the laboratory, the chemist mixed two clear liquids to observe their reaction. Almost immediately, a dense white precipitation formed and settled at the bottom of the beaker, indicating that a new, insoluble compound had been created. This solid substance was then filtered and dried for further analysis, demonstrating how chemical reactions can yield new phases of matter from liquid solutions.
As it is used in the passage, the word precipitation most nearly means:
- Arain, snow, or other moisture falling from the sky
- Bthe speed or suddenness with which a reaction occurs
- the formation of a solid substance from a liquid solutionAnswer
- Dthe dissolving of a compound into a liquid mixture
Answer
the formation of a solid substance from a liquid solution
The correct answer is the option stating 'the formation of a solid substance from a liquid solution'. The passage provides several context clues to support this meaning: the substance is described as 'dense' and 'white,' it 'settled at the bottom of the beaker,' and it is explicitly referred to in the next sentence as a 'solid substance' that was 'filtered.' These details indicate that the word refers to the physical formation of a solid during a chemical reaction, rather than meteorological rainfall or speed.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Decoding low-frequency technical terms by using local context clues (such as descriptive adjectives, subsequent referencing pronouns, and physical descriptions).