SUPER NATANT Meaning and
Definition
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Super natant is an adjective used in biological and chemical contexts to describe a liquid or solution obtained after centrifugation or settling, where the supernatant layer or component refers to the clear or translucent liquid situated above a precipitate or sediment. The term "super natant" is used to indicate that the liquid fraction is located on top or above the settled or precipitated material.
In biological research, after conducting a centrifugation process, the supernatant is collected by carefully extracting the upper layer, which mainly consists of soluble substances or suspended particles that were not part of the precipitate. This liquid often contains residual enzymes, hormones, cell debris, or other biologically significant molecules. Similarly, in chemical processes, the term "super natant" denotes the upper layer of a solution that emerges and separates from the solid or insoluble components.
The clear distinction between the supernatant and the precipitate is commonly achieved through gravity or by using centrifugal force to accelerate the separation process. In a centrifuge, the denser or larger particles tend to settle at the bottom of the tube, while the lighter or smaller particles remain suspended or dissolved in the supernatant above. By isolating and analyzing the supernatant, scientists can study the composition, concentration, and properties of the dissolved substances, leading to a better understanding of biological or chemical processes.
Common Misspellings for SUPER NATANT
- auper natant
- zuper natant
- xuper natant
- duper natant
- euper natant
- wuper natant
- syper natant
- shper natant
- sjper natant
- siper natant
- s8per natant
- s7per natant
- suoer natant
- suler natant
- su-er natant
- su0er natant
- supwr natant
- supsr natant
- supdr natant
- suprr natant
Etymology of SUPER NATANT
The term "supernatant" is derived from Latin, specifically from the combination of the prefix "super" (meaning "above" or "over") and the present participle of the verb "natare" (meaning "to swim").
In Latin, "super" was used to denote superiority or addition to something, while "natare" referred to the action of swimming. When combined, "supernatant" formed a word that originally described a liquid or substance remaining above or floating upon another after a process of precipitation or sedimentation.
Over time, the term has been adopted into English and is commonly used in chemistry and biology to refer to the liquid or solution that remains above a solid or sediment after the latter has settled.
