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Difficulty: HardDomain-Specific and Technical Vocabulary

A Spanish-language laboratory manual for biochemical analysis includes the following instruction:

"Para la separación eficiente de los componentes, es imprescindible realizar la centrifugación a 30003000 RPM. Inmediatamente después, el técnico debe decantar el sobrenadante en un vial esterilizado, evitando cualquier perturbación del sedimento depositado en el fondo."

Based on the context of this manual, which of the following is the correct definition of the action denoted by the verb decantar?

  1. A
    To express a preference or choose between two different experimental methods
  2. B
    To filter the solution using a porous membrane to capture microscopic cells
  3. To pour off the top liquid layer to isolate it from the solid precipitateAnswer
  4. D
    To gradually reduce the rotation speed of the centrifugal equipment

Answer

The correct answer is the action of pouring off the top liquid layer to isolate it from the solid precipitate.
In biochemical and laboratory contexts, the verb 'decantar' (to decant) means to gently pour off the liquid supernatant from a container after a solid precipitate has settled (often after centrifugation), leaving the sediment undisturbed at the bottom. This matches the context of separating components while avoiding any disturbance of the sediment.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the target word and its grammatical context in the sentence.
The target word is the verb 'decantar' in the infinitive form, acting on the direct object 'el sobrenadante' (the supernatant) and followed by the condition of not disturbing 'el sedimento' (the sediment).
Understanding the immediate syntactic relationships helps determine what entity is being acted upon and what constraints exist.
2
Examine the technical process described to infer the physical action.
The process described is laboratory separation following centrifugation at 30003000 RPM, which separates components by density into a liquid top layer and a solid bottom layer.
Scientific context allows us to align the verb with standard chemical or biological separation techniques rather than everyday terms.
3
Correlate the instruction to avoid disturbing the sediment with the definition of 'decantar'.
Since the goal is to transfer the supernatant into a new vial without disturbing the sediment at the bottom, 'decantar' must mean pouring off the liquid layer carefully.
This step distinguishes decanting from filtering (which uses a barrier) and confirms the correct physical action.

Key Concept

Identifying domain-specific and technical vocabulary in instructions and guides
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Domain-Specific and Technical Vocabulary

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