dialysable

A chemist demonstrates that the compound is dialysable.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Capable of undergoing dialysis: "dialysable" describes a substance, typically a small solute molecule, that can be separated from a solution by passing through a semipermeable membrane during the process of dialysis.
   • Chemically separable: In chemistry, it refers to components that are able to diffuse across a membrane due to their size or solubility, as opposed to larger molecules or colloids.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Urea is a highly dialysable waste product that is removed from blood during kidney dialysis. (Urea can easily pass through the dialysis membrane.)
  • The lab technician tested the sample to determine which solutes were dialysable and which were not. (The technician checked which substances could be separated by dialysis.)

Advanced Usage

• "dialysable fraction": the portion of a mixture that can be removed by dialysis.

  • After dialysis, the dialysable fraction contained only small ions and organic molecules. (The part that passed through the membrane consisted of small particles.)

• "non-dialysable": the opposite, referring to substances that cannot pass through the membrane.

  • Proteins are typically non-dialysable due to their large molecular size. (Proteins remain in the solution because they are too big to cross the membrane.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dialysis (noun): the process of separating substances in a solution using a semipermeable membrane.

  • Dialysis is commonly used in medicine to purify blood. (The process removes waste products.)

• Dialyse (verb): to subject to dialysis.

  • The solution was dialysed to remove excess salt. (The solution underwent dialysis.)

Synonyms

• Permeable: allowing substances to pass through (in the context of membranes).
• Diffusible: able to spread or pass through a medium.

Phrasal Verbs

• Dialyse out: to remove via dialysis.
  • The toxins were dialysed out of the blood over several hours. (The toxins were eliminated by dialysis.)

Related Idioms

• None commonly used. The term is technical and specific to chemistry, biochemistry, and medicine.