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Supernatant for Dummies

adjective

pronunciation: ,supər'neɪtənt

What does Supernatant really mean?

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Hey there, my friend! I see you're curious about the word "supernatant," and I'm here to help you understand it easily. So, let's dive right in!

Alright, picture this: you have a glass of water with some sugar mixed in it. When you stir the mixture, the sugar dissolves in the water, right? Now, if you were to leave it undisturbed for some time, what do you think would happen? Exactly! The sugar particles would begin to sink down to the bottom of the glass.

In scientific terms, the liquid portion that remains above the settled particles is called the "supernatant." It's like the top part of the mixture that stays separated from the sediment or solid substances that have settled down. You can imagine it as the clear part of the mixture, almost like the water without the sugar.

Now, I know that "supernatant" can be a bit of a tricky word, but it's used quite frequently in different areas, especially in research or laboratory contexts. Scientists often use it to describe the liquid portion of a mixture that has been separated from the solid particles by processes like centrifugation or sedimentation. It's like when you want to separate the things you want from the things you don't want.

In addition to its scientific use, "supernatant" can also be used more generally to describe something that is floating or hovering above something else. For example, think of a foam floating on top of a cup of hot chocolate or the oil that forms a thin layer on top of a jar of peanut butter.

So, my friend, the word "supernatant" basically refers to the liquid part of a mixture that remains above the solid particles that have settled at the bottom. It's like the top part of the mixture that stays separate, like the water without the sugar. Scientists and researchers often use it, but it can also be used to describe things floating or hovering on top of something else. Pretty cool, right?

I hope this explanation makes things clearer for you. If you have any more questions or need further clarification, don't hesitate to ask. Keep on exploring and learning, my friend, you're doing amazing!

Revised and Fact checked by Nicole Thomas on 2023-10-28 22:22:38

Supernatant In a sentece

Learn how to use Supernatant inside a sentece

  • After mixing oil and water, the oil floated above the water forming a layer of supernatant.
  • When you leave a cup of hot tea undisturbed, you'll notice a layer of supernatant on the top made up of tea leaves.
  • By allowing muddy water to settle, the heavier sediment sinks to the bottom and the clear water on top is called supernatant.
  • When making homemade fruit juice, the pulp from the fruits settles at the bottom of the container leaving a clear liquid, known as supernatant, on top.
  • During a science experiment, when a solid is dissolved in a liquid and the liquid is left undisturbed, a layer of supernatant can be observed after the solid settles at the bottom.

Supernatant Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

Supernatant Similar Words

Words that similar to the original word, but are not synonyms.

Supernatant Category

The domain category to which the original word belongs.