<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (February 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (February 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> Precipitation is the creation of a solid from a solution . When the reaction occurs in a liquid solution, the solid formed is called the' precipitate' . The chemical that causes the solid to form is called the' precipitant' . Without sufficient force of gravity (settling) to bring the solid particles together, the precipitate remains in suspension . After sedimentation, especially when using a centrifuge to press it into a compact mass, the precipitate may be referred to as a' pellet' . Precipitation can be used as a medium . The precipitate - free liquid remaining above the solid is called the' supernate' or' supernatant' . Powders derived from precipitation have also historically been known as' flowers' . When the solid appears in the form of cellulose fibers which have been through chemical processing, the process is often referred to as regeneration . </P> <P> Sometimes the formation of a precipitate indicates the occurrence of a chemical reaction . If silver nitrate solution is poured into a solution of sodium chloride, a chemical reaction occurs forming a white precipitate of silver chloride . When potassium iodide solution reacts with lead (II) nitrate solution, a yellow precipitate of lead (II) iodide is formed . </P>

A solid that forms from a solution during a chemical reaction