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Glite Dictionary
fluorapatite

fluorapatite

1 9.9
A hard mineral that contains fluorine and provides phosphorus for fertilizers
  • noun
  • /ˌflʊərəˈpætˌaɪt/
  • Specialized
: fluorapatita
  • In dental treatments, fluorapatite is valued for its ability to help remineralize enamel and prevent cavities.

Examples

  • After foundation firing, fluorapatite veneering ceramic (IPS Eris for E2, Ivoclar Vivadent) was applied using a layering technique.

    Academic text (2016)

  • Fluoride salts are used to enhance the strength of teeth by the formation of fluorapatite, a naturally occurring component of tooth enamel.

    Blog text (18)

  • Waste form: fluoride for interim and substitute fluorapatite for permanent storage.

    Blog text (32)

  • Fluoride in your toothpaste causes what is known as Fluorapatite.

    Blog text (18)

  • Fluoride salts are used to enhance the strength of teeth by the formation of fluorapatite, a naturally occurring component of tooth enamel.

  • The geology students learned that fluorapatite is commonly found in igneous rocks and is an important source of phosphorus.

Surface Forms

fluorapatite singular
fluorapatites plural

Morphology

fluorapatite = apatite (semi-transparent) = fluor + apatite + fluor

The prefix 'fluor-' indicates presence of fluorine (a productive chemical combining form), but the term is specialized mineralogical nomenclature and not fully transparent to general learners.

Etymology

Fluorapatite combines fluor (the element fluorine, as in fluoride) and apatite, a name that once meant 'to deceive' because the mineral can look like other stones. So fluorapatite is the kind of apatite that contains fluorine.