To remove silicate minerals or silica from something, especially in industrial or geological processes.
From 'de-' (Latin prefix meaning 'to remove') + 'silicate' (from 'silica,' silicon dioxide, from Latin silex meaning 'flint'). The term emerged in 19th-century chemistry and metallurgy.
When steelmakers desilicate molten metal, they're removing pesky silicon impurities that make steel brittle. It's a battle between chemists and silicon's stubbornness—silicon doesn't want to leave, and removing it requires extreme heat and precise calculations.
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