lixiviate

The chemist uses a glass beaker to lixiviate the powdered ore.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To separate soluble substances from a solid by percolation or washing: "lixiviate" means to treat a substance with a solvent (typically water) to dissolve and extract its soluble components, leaving the insoluble residue behind. This process is commonly used in chemistry, metallurgy, and soil science.

Usage Examples

• (The chemist separated the salt by washing the ore with water.)
• (They treat the soil with a solvent to extract soluble minerals for analysis.)
• (The ash is washed with water to obtain soluble potassium salts.)

Advanced Usage

• "to lixiviate a compound": to extract one or more components from a solid mixture by dissolving them in a suitable liquid.
  • The researchers lixiviated the plant material to isolate the active alkaloids. (They used a solvent to extract the alkaloids from the plant.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lixiviation (n): the process or act of lixiviating.

  • The lixiviation of the ore requires careful control of temperature and pH. (The extraction process demands precise conditions.)

• Lixivium (n): a solution obtained by lixiviation; a leachate.

  • The lixivium contained dissolved copper salts. (The liquid resulting from the extraction held copper compounds.)

Synonyms

• Leach: to drain away or extract substances by the action of a percolating liquid.

  • Rainwater leaches minerals from the soil. (Water dissolves and carries away minerals.)

• Percolate: to filter gradually through a porous substance.

  • The coffee percolates through the grounds. (The liquid passes through the solid material.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Lixiviate out: to remove a soluble substance completely by washing.
  • They lixiviated out the impurities from the salt. (They washed the salt until all impurities were removed.)

Related Idioms