powder method
- noun
- Specialized
:
método de polvo
- The powder method is commonly used to analyze complex mineral mixtures.
Examples
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The powder method is widely used in mineral identification.
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To teach students about X-ray crystallography, we performed the powder method in the lab.
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Researchers confirmed the identity of the crystal using the powder method.
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Have you ever heard of the powder method in crystallography?
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Researchers confirmed the identity of the crystal using the powder method.
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The powder method is commonly used to analyze complex mineral mixtures.
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To teach students about X-ray crystallography, we performed the powder method in the lab.
Synonyms
1
7.1
A way X-rays scatter from the atoms in a crystal to show its structure
A method that uses X-rays on a powder to identify a mineral or crystal
A method for identifying minerals by using X-rays on a small powdered sample to make a pattern
How Specific
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase 'powder method' is compositionally built from 'powder' (a fine dry material) + 'method' (a procedure), so its basic meaning — a technique that uses or involves a powder — is directly derivable. While the exact crystallography details (X‑ray diffraction) are technical domain knowledge, a B1 learner who knows both constituents will understand the general concept of a method employing powder.
Etymology
Powder method comes from the simple image of grinding a crystal into a fine powder, so many tiny crystal pieces point in many directions. When X-rays hit that powder they make a clear pattern that lets scientists 'identify' the mineral, so the name means a method to find what a crystal is by its X-ray pattern.