fractionation

Thân thiện

The scientist uses fractionation to separate the mixture in the lab.

Definition

Noun: 1. The act or process of separating something into smaller parts or constituent elements. This often refers to a scientific or industrial separation process. 2. A specific chemical or physical process that uses differences in properties (like boiling point) to separate a mixture into its components. This is the core technical meaning.

Usage

Fractionation is primarily used as a technical term in chemistry, physics, and industry. It describes a systematic separation method. - The fractionation of crude oil in a refinery produces gasoline, diesel, and other products. - Air fractionation is used to produce pure oxygen and nitrogen. - The laboratory uses fractionation to isolate specific proteins from a cell mixture.

Advanced Usage

• Isotope fractionation: A process where the relative abundance of isotopes changes during a physical or chemical process. This is a key concept in geology and environmental science.
  • Scientists study oxygen isotope fractionation in ice cores to understand past climates.
• Cell fractionation: A laboratory technique in biology to separate different parts of a cell (e.g., nucleus, mitochondria) by centrifugation.
  • Cell fractionation allowed the researchers to study the organelles separately.

Variants and Related Words

• Fractionate (verb): To subject to the process of fractionation.
  • The chemist will fractionate the sample to obtain a pure compound.
• Fractional (adjective): Relating to or involving a fraction or the process of fractionation.
  • They used fractional distillation to separate the liquids.
• Fraction (noun): One of the portions or components resulting from fractionation.
  • The first fraction collected contained the lightest molecules.

Synonyms

• Separation
• Division
• Segmentation
• Distillation (specifically for liquid mixtures using heat)

Related Phrases / Processes

• Fractional distillation: A specific type of fractionation that separates liquids based on their different boiling points.
  • Fractional distillation is a common fractionation process in chemistry labs.
• Fractionation column: The equipment used to perform fractional distillation.

Học thuật

Noun

1. separation into portions
2. a process that uses heat to separate a substance into its components

Từ đồng nghĩa

• fractional process