quartation
Definition
- Noun (Chemistry):
- A method of purifying gold: "quartation" is a process used in metallurgy and chemistry where gold is alloyed with silver (typically in a ratio of three parts silver to one part gold) and then treated with nitric acid. The acid dissolves the silver, leaving behind pure gold. This technique is employed to separate and refine gold from impurities or other metals.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The ancient goldsmiths used quartation to produce high-purity gold for coinage. (They employed the process of alloying gold with silver and dissolving the silver with acid.)
- In the laboratory, quartation is considered an effective method for refining precious metals. (The technique is regarded as a reliable way to purify gold.)
Advanced Usage
"to undergo quartation": to be subjected to the purification process.
- The impure gold underwent quartation to remove base metals. (The gold was treated with silver and acid to eliminate contaminants.)
"quartation assay": a test or analysis that uses the quartation method.
- The jeweler performed a quartation assay to determine the gold's fineness. (He used the process to measure the purity of the gold sample.)
Variants and Related Words
- Quartation (n): the specific term itself; no common variants exist. However, related terms include:
- Alloy (n): a mixture of metals, as used in the quartation process.
- The alloy of gold and silver was essential for quartation. (The mixture of metals was necessary for the purification method.)
- Refine (v): to purify a substance.
- They refined the gold through quartation. (They purified the gold using the process.)
Synonyms
- Parting: a term sometimes used interchangeably with quartation, referring to the separation of gold from silver by acid treatment.
- The parting of gold from silver is achieved through quartation. (The separation is done via this chemical method.)
Related Idioms
- No common idioms are associated with "quartation," as it is a technical term used primarily in chemistry and metallurgy.