Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Precipitation refers to the formation of an insoluble solid (precipitate) during a chemical reaction between two solutions. It occurs when two substances combine and form a new compound that is not soluble in the solvent.
Related terms
Solubility Limit: The maximum amount of solute that can dissolve in a given amount of solvent at a specific temperature.
A type of chemical reaction where two compounds exchange positive ions (cations) resulting in the formation of new compounds and often leading to precipitation.
Supersaturation: A state in which a solution contains more dissolved solute than it can normally hold at that temperature. This can lead to the spontaneous formation of a precipitate.