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Glite Dictionary
activating agent

activating agent

6.7
A chemical used in a mining process with bubbles to make a certain mineral stick to the bubbles
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : agente activador
  • The addition of an activating agent dramatically increased the separation efficiency in the ore processing plant.

Examples

  • The activating agent plays a crucial role in mineral extraction.

  • Can you identify the activating agents used in this process?

  • A copper sulfate solution is often used as an activating agent to improve the recovery of sphalerite during flotation.

  • Selecting the appropriate activating agent can significantly affect which minerals are collected in the flotation process.

  • The scientist added an activating agent to enhance the flotation of the targeted mineral during the extraction process.

  • Using the right activating agent is crucial for improving the efficiency of mineral separation in flotation techniques.

  • The lab technician carefully measured the activating agent to optimize its effectiveness in the mineral extraction experiment.

Synonyms

surface-active agent
vsactivating agent
  • Specialized
6.9

A chemical in soaps and detergents that helps water mix with oil

is applied in mineral flotation to increase attraction to a specific mineral
wetting agent
vsactivating agent
  • Specialized
5.5

A chemical that helps a liquid spread or soak in more easily

is used to boost selective attachment to a target mineral during flotation

How Effective

activating agent
  • Specialized
6.7
inactive
  • Specialized
1 6.0

Surface Forms

activating agent singular
activating agents plural

Morphology

activate + agent

The phrase is a straightforward composition of 'activating' (causing something to become active) + 'agent' (a thing or substance that produces an effect), so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a substance that activates or promotes a process. Although the full technical specifics (surface-active role in flotation) are domain-specific, the basic meaning is directly derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Activating agent comes from a simple picture: activating means 'turning on' and agent is the small chemical that does it, like giving a dull mineral a tiny coat that makes it start to stick to bubbles. That's why the term refers to 'a chemical used in flotation to make a mineral more attractive'.