[a bit OT] floating "precipitates"

[Dr Engelbert Buxbaum]

Am 21.07.2009, 04:43 Uhr, schrieb WS <novalidaddress from nurfuerspam.de>:

> please excuse my ignorance: How to describe stuff that goes out of
> solution, but does not precipitate at the bottom of the vial and
> prefers floating atop of it - Floating insoluble matter? Flotulate?

"Precipitate" refers to the material that has become insoluble during a  
process. Whether the density of that material is higher or lower than that  
of the solution has nothing to do with it.

If the material has a higher density than the solution, and is allowed to  
settle (possibly with the aid of a centrifuge) you get a "pellet".