沈殿

• Reading: ちんでん
• Romaji: chinden
• Kanji breakdown: 沈 (chin/shizu-) — sink, submerge; 殿 (den/dono) — settling, palace (phonetic use here)
• Pronunciation: /tɕi.ɴ.de.ɴ/

Meaning

Precipitation; sedimentation; the process by which a solid forms in a solution and settles to the bottom, or the solid deposit itself.

A noun (also suru-verb) used in chemistry and environmental science. Chemical precipitation occurs when a reaction produces an insoluble product; sedimentation refers to gravity-driven settling of suspended particles. 沈殿物 is the precipitate or sediment. In water treatment and analytical chemistry, controlling 沈殿 is essential.

Examples

1. 硫酸バリウムの白い沈殿が生じたことで硫酸イオンの存在が確認できた。 The formation of a white barium sulfate precipitate confirmed the presence of sulfate ions.
2. 池の底に長年の沈殿が積み重なり、厚い泥の層を形成していた。 Years of sedimentation accumulated at the bottom of the pond, forming a thick layer of mud.
3. 遠心分離機を使って溶液中の細胞を沈殿させ、上清を除去した。 A centrifuge was used to sediment the cells in the solution, and the supernatant was removed.

Usage Guide

Context: chemistry, environmental science, water treatment, geology

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 沈 (chin — to sink) and 殿 (den — palace, but here used phonetically for 'settling'). In scientific usage the combination denotes material sinking and accumulating at the bottom.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Students and professionals

Social background: Technical