Difference between coprecipitation and post precipitation.

Coprecipitation and post-precipitation are two different methods used in chemistry to obtain solid precipitates from a solution. Here's the difference between the two:

Coprecipitation: Coprecipitation refers to the simultaneous precipitation of two or more substances from a solution. It occurs when a solid phase is formed and incorporates certain impurities or other substances present in the solution. These impurities are "coprecipitated" along with the desired substance. Coprecipitation can be intentional or unintentional, depending on the specific objectives of the experiment.

Post-precipitation: Post-precipitation, also known as secondary precipitation or after-precipitation, involves the addition of a precipitating agent to a solution that already contains a primary precipitate. The purpose of post-precipitation is to selectively remove or recover specific substances that were not initially precipitated or were present in the solution as dissolved species. The added precipitating agent causes the formation of a secondary precipitate, which selectively captures the desired substance.

In summary, the key difference between coprecipitation and post-precipitation lies in the timing and purpose of the precipitation process. Coprecipitation occurs during the initial precipitation step, where impurities or other substances are unintentionally or intentionally incorporated into the precipitate. On the other hand, post-precipitation takes place after the primary precipitation and involves the addition of a precipitating agent to selectively capture specific substances that were not initially precipitated.