What does cupellation mean?
Cupellation is a chemical process used to separate metals from their ores. It involves heating the ore in a cupel, a porous dish, to remove impurities. This process is often used to extract gold and other precious metals from their ores. Cupellation has been used for centuries in various forms of metallurgy. The process is still used today in some industries, although it has largely been replaced by more modern methods. Cupellation is an important part of the history of metallurgy and continues to be studied by historians and chemists.
nounA process of separating metals from their ores by heating them in a cupel, a porous dish, to remove impurities.
- 1. The process of separating metals from their ores by heating them in a cupel.
"The alchemist used cupellation to extract gold from the ore."
"The ancient Egyptians used cupellation to extract gold from the ore."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cupellation
The word 'cupellation' comes from the Latin 'cupellare', meaning 'to purify in a cupel'. The process of cupellation has been used for centuries in various forms of metallurgy, and the word has been used to describe this process since the 14th century.
Usage notes
Cupellation is a formal term and is not commonly used in everyday conversation. It is often used in academic and technical contexts to describe the process of separating metals from their ores.