The word "quartation" is spelled with four syllables: /kwɔr'teɪ.ʃən/. The first syllable, "quar," is pronounced with the same vowel sound as "car." The second syllable, "ta," has a soft "a" sound, like in "father." The third syllable, "tion," ends with a "shun" sound, similar to "action." Quartation refers to a process where metals are separated by melting them together with a base metal. This term is mainly used in the mining industry.
Quartation is a term commonly used in alchemy and metallurgy, referring to a process of obtaining gold or silver from an alloy containing a lesser amount of the desired metal. This procedure involves the use of nitric acid to dissolve the alloy, separating it from the impurities. The term "quartation" originates from the Latin word "quartatio," which means "to divide into quarters."
During the quartation process, the alloy is dissolved in nitric acid, resulting in the formation of a silver or gold chloride. The addition of salt or iron helps to precipitate out the impurities, leaving behind a pure compound of gold or silver. This method is often utilized when the initial alloy contains a relatively small proportion of the desired metal. Quartation requires careful control and manipulation of chemical reactions to ensure the successful separation of the valuable metal.
Quartation has had historical significance in alchemy and metallurgy, particularly during the medieval and Renaissance periods when the quest for transforming base metals into gold was prominent. Although the transmutation of metals is considered a mythical pursuit today, the concept of quartation remains valuable for its contribution to the knowledge and understanding of chemical processes.
In an alloy of gold and silver, the separation of the gold from the silver by means of sulphuric acid, which dissolves the silver the silver, however, must not be less than three-fourths of the alloy, else the gold protects the silver.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "quartation" is derived from the Latin word "quartatio", which itself comes from "quartatus" or "quartare", meaning "to divide into quarters". The Latin term refers to a process of dividing or separating metals into fractions. The word "quartation" is primarily used in chemistry and metallurgy, specifically in the context of separating gold and silver alloys.