ion exchange

noun

: a reversible interchange of one kind of ion present on an insoluble solid with another of like charge present in a solution surrounding the solid with the reaction being used especially for softening or demineralizing water, the purification of chemicals, or the separation of substances
ion exchanger noun

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The Big Berkey Filter uses carbon and ion exchange to remove over 200 contaminants, including bacteria, pesticides, and heavy metals. Tamar Kane, Health, 6 Feb. 2023 But that’s not what all the technetium did: A considerable percentage formed a still-unidentified compound that the ion exchange columns don’t capture. Valerie Brown, Discover Magazine, 28 Sep. 2018 In 2019, the Lake County Public Works Department issued a letter to Lake Zurich asking the village to remove radium produced by its ion exchange process from the wastewater stream sent to Lake County, according to Village Manager Ray Keller. Elizabeth Owens-schiele, chicagotribune.com, 8 Mar. 2022 The whole-house units are generally sodium ion exchange systems that trade the calcium and magnesium ions in the water for sodium. Washington Post, 10 June 2021 The Glass Elite material undergoes an ion exchange tempering process that increases the surface tension for a durable and scratch-resistant protector. Ellen Mcalpine, CNN Underscored, 9 Nov. 2020 The technology the pilot plant will use to separate and concentrate rare earth elements is called ion exchange and continuous ion chromatography. Aldo Svaldi, The Denver Post, 12 Jan. 2020 Lilac, which announced the investment this week, says its ion exchange technology is twice as efficient as the current mining process and takes a fraction of the time. Max De Haldevang, Quartz, 21 Feb. 2020 Because the skin-irritating minerals are passed through the water via ion exchange, the water then becomes soft and can potentially be less irritating to the skin. Kaleigh Fasanella, Allure, 25 Sep. 2018 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ion exchange.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ion exchange was in 1923

Dictionary Entries Near ion exchange

Cite this Entry

“Ion exchange.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ion%20exchange. Accessed 21 Mar. 2023.

Medical Definition

ion exchange

noun
ion ex·​change -iks-ˈchānj How to pronounce ion exchange (audio)
: a reversible interchange of one kind of ion present on an insoluble solid with another of like charge present in a solution surrounding the solid with the reaction being used especially for softening or demineralizing water, purifying chemicals, or separating substances
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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