CUPELS Meaning and
Definition
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A cupel is a vessel or small, shallow, cylindrical container made from a refractory material used in metallurgy, particularly in the process of assaying precious metals. Typically, cupels are composed of bone ash, magnesite, clay, or a mixture of these materials. Their purpose is to facilitate the separation of impurities from valuable metals, such as gold or silver.
In the assaying process, a cupel is placed in a furnace at high temperatures. The precious metal samples, along with a suitable fluxing agent, are melted together within the cupel. The cupel acts as a porous filter, allowing the molten metal to absorb into its wall while drawing out any impurities.
As the cupel continues to heat up, the impurities react with the fluxing agent, forming slag that is eventually absorbed by the cupel. This leaves behind a pristinely purified bead of gold or silver, ready for accurate measurement or further analysis.
Cupels are essential in the laboratory analysis and determination of the purity and quality of precious metals. These vessels provide a controlled environment for the chemical reactions to take place, ensuring accurate results. Cupellation, the process in which cupels are employed, has been used for centuries and remains a fundamental technique in the field of metallurgy.
Etymology of CUPELS
The word "cupels" originates from the Latin word "cupella", which means a small vessel or cup. This Latin term further evolved into the Old English word "cpel" or "cyple", referring to a shallow dish or basin used in assaying metals. Over time, the spelling of the word changed, and the modern form "cupels" emerged, maintaining its association with the small vessels used in various metallurgical processes.
