precipitant

Everyday

1. (science) A substance that you add to a liquid to make a solid form and come out of it (a precipitate). tree →
2. (formal) Something that causes an event to happen suddenly, a trigger: «Stress was the precipitant of the argument.» tree →
3. (formal, rare adjective) Done too quickly, without thinking; rushed. tree →

In the lessons

In chemistry lessons a precipitant is added to a solution so cloudy solid bits appear. In medicine and formal writing it means the trigger of something. In stories it is rare. Phrases: «add a precipitant», «the precipitant of», «a precipitant decision» (rare).

Examples

• The teacher added a precipitant and the clear liquid went cloudy. tree →
• Salt can act as a precipitant in some experiments. tree →
• The heavy rain was the precipitant of the landslide. tree →
• Doctors looked for the precipitant of her asthma attack. tree →
• His precipitant decision to quit surprised everyone. tree →
• A precipitant makes the solid «fall out» of the solution. tree →

Note

Countable noun: a precipitant, precipitants. Related words: precipitate (the solid that forms; also to cause suddenly), precipitation (rain, snow and hail, or forming a solid). Easily confused with «precipitate»; the precipitant is what you add, the precipitate is what forms.