Newsgroup: it.cultura.linguistica.inglese
Titolo: to settle out

I have a doubt with the exact translation of "to settle out" found in
the description of water treatment (for my chemistry students); here's
the context
1. filters remove large objects
2. non-organic waste settles out
3. solid organic waste settles out as a sludge in the sedimentation
tanks
(...)
Is it correct to say "fuoriuscire" "posarsi fuori"?
What really puzzles me is HOW this happens... But then again this is
not a "love-chemistry" group.
Thanks! :-)
Claudia

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The waste is "in suspension" and it "settles out" as sediment. This occurs 
because material heavier than water falls when in suspension in still water. 
It is like what happens to coffee grinds at the bottom of a cup of espresso. 

On 11 Apr, 18:11, "Tony the Ice Man"
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Thanks, so could "settles out" be translated "si posa sul fondo"?
Uhm... (I can be thick, I know...)
Claudia

 Uhm... (I can be thick, I know...)
Dimmi, tu. Il termine technico in inglese è "to precipitate," allora
precipita al fondo?

 precipita al fondo?
As I think about this, I am not sure. Particles can precipitate from a 
supersaturated solution, but I'm not sure one says that particles 
precipitate from a suspension. In a solution there is a chemical bonding 
between the solvent and the solute and the solute isn't in solid form until 
it precipitates. In a suspension the particles are present and dispersed by 
agitation of the liquid. We'll have to leave this fine point to some lurking 
chemist or someone with more time on hisor her hands who can do the research 
for you. 

 wrote in message
news:1176306248.4...@w1g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
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Gravity.
Joe from Massachusetts

 
I would say: "sedimenta"
-- 
all'uomo solo,
ancora piu' amica
la luna


Ecco, ok, ma perché c'è "out" se "sedimentare" si dice anche solo
"settle"?
Credo (avendo letto altre cose) che ci siano dei sistemi di rimozione
di quanto si sedimenta, il che spiegherebbe l'avverbio, ma non sono
sicura.
Caro Joe, I know that it's gravity that causes the precipitation of
heavier materials in a liquid, again, it's the "out" I wasn't sure
about! :-) Imagine trying to remove sand from the bottom of a bucket
filled with water ... But then again, I'm no water enigineer (which
explains my salary...)
Thank you all
Claudia

> sicura.
Si può dire solo 'settles' (non-organic waste settles). Ma dire solo 
'settles' c'è un'opportunità per ambiguità perché 'to settle' significa 
anche 'calmare'. Il verbo può essere intransitivo o transitivo. Il 'out' fa 
certo che è la forma intransitiva. Le parole 'of the water' sono implicate 
in 'settles out'.
It settles the water = fa calmo l'acqua.
It settles out of the water = cada nell'acqua e resta al fondo.

 wrote in message
news:1176390473.3...@e65g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
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Perhaps the "out" emphasizes that the undesired material has been removed
from the water. To me, "settles" by itself seems adequate. The sludge
doesn't go anywhere, it just sits there while the water is drained off.
Google "(settles) (settles out) water filter".
Joe from Massachusetts


[-]
While you're on the subject of chemistry, I recall a definition of "soap".
"Soap is saponified fat". Somehow it seems redundant to me. If "saponify"
means "to convert fat into soap", then "Soap is fat which has been converted
into soap". Maybe it's just the Italian influence.  :>)
Joe from Massachusetts

 into soap". Maybe it's just the Italian influence.  :>)
I agree about the style of the definition, but you couldn't just say
"soap is fat" could you? I guess saying "saponified fat" is more
concise than "fat which has undergone a process so as to turn it into
soap" .
In any case the meaning of "saponify" is "convert into soap by
hydrolizing an ester into an acid and alcohol as a result of treating
it with an alkali" . Glum
Ciao
Claudia