absorption indicator
- noun
- Specialized
:
indicador de absorción
- The chemist added an absorption indicator to the solution to determine the point at which precipitation occurred.
Examples
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Without an absorption indicator, it would be difficult to visually identify the endpoint of the reaction.
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In analytical chemistry, an absorption indicator is often used in titrations involving silver halides.
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The absorption indicator changed color during the experiment.
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Can you explain how the absorption indicator works?
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In analytical chemistry, an absorption indicator helps identify the endpoint of a reaction by changing color.
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The chemist used an absorption indicator to clearly signal when precipitation took place in the solution.
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Without an absorption indicator, determining the conclusion of the titration would be challenging.
Synonyms
3
4.3
A substance that changes color to show a chemical reaction
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is compositionally predictable: an 'indicator' (a chemical that signals or changes color) that relates specifically to 'absorption' (the process of taking up a substance). A B1 learner who knows both constituent words can infer this refers to a chemical used to signal when absorption occurs, although the precise laboratory usage is technical.
Etymology
Absorption indicator comes from work in chemical labs, where a small dye is taken up by the new solid that forms in a solution. The parts absorption (the dye being taken up) and indicator (something that shows) explain why the dye changes color to signal the 'end point' of the reaction.