What is the Difference Between Supernatant and Precipitate?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The key difference between supernatant and precipitate lies in their forms. A supernatant is the liquid portion of a solution that forms above solid material, while a precipitate is the solid component that occurs beneath the liquid part of a solution.
Supernatant:
- Formed above solid material in a solution.
- May or may not be clear, depending on the components present in the solution.
- Often formed when a solution is spun in a centrifuge.
- Examples include the plasma of blood and the clear component of urine.
Precipitate:
- Solid component that forms in a solution.
- Occurs beneath the liquid part of a solution.
- Can be separated from the reaction mixture using filtration, decantation, and centrifugation.
- Examples include sodium chloride precipitating out in water when the solution has more of the salt than water, and DNA and other cellular components precipitating out after centrifugation.
In summary, a supernatant is a liquid that forms above solid material, while a precipitate is a solid component that forms in a solution.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Supernatant and Precipitate? Comparative Table: Supernatant vs Precipitate
Comparative Table: Supernatant vs Precipitate
Here is a table highlighting the differences between supernatant and precipitate:
Aspect | Supernatant | Precipitate |
---|---|---|
Definition | The liquid portion above the settled solid sediment or precipitate. | The insoluble solid material formed during a chemical reaction. |
Formation | Result of centrifugation or sedimentation processes. | Result of chemical reactions in a solution. |
Composition | Consists of liquid and dissolved substances. | Consists of solid particles or precipitated compounds. |
Physical State | Liquid form. | Solid form. |
Location | Located above the settled solid or precipitate. | Located below the supernatant or solid sediment. |
In summary, supernatant is the liquid portion that remains above the solid sediment or precipitate, while precipitate is the insoluble solid material formed during a chemical reaction. Supernatant is in liquid form, whereas precipitate is in solid form.
Read more:
- Crystallization vs Precipitation
- Condensation vs Precipitation
- Coprecipitation vs Post Precipitation
- Precipitation vs Co-precipitation
- Precipitation vs Agglutination Reactions
- Acid Base Reaction vs Precipitation Reaction
- Sedimentation vs Decantation
- Saturated vs Supersaturated Solution
- Solvent vs Solute
- Immunoprecipitation vs Coimmunoprecipitation
- Solution vs Suspension
- Concentration vs Solubility
- Crystallization vs Recrystallization
- Liquid vs Solution
- Solution vs Solvent
- Evaporation vs Crystallization
- Total Solids vs Total Suspended Solids
- Sleet vs Snow
- Saturated vs Concentrated Solution