solifaction

English

Etymology 1

• From Sol, from the identification of gold as the planetary metal of the Sun. Compare Latin sōlificātiō, sōlificus.

Noun

solifaction

1. (alchemy) the production of gold
   • 2004 [c. 1653-1656], George Starkey, translated by William R. Newman, Lawrence M. Principe, Alchemical Laboratory Notebooks and Correspondence, University of Chicago Press, page 204:

     Note also that mercury is not made from regulus without the separation of copious combustible sulfur; therefore, it is fitting for solifaction and lunifaction for this sulfur to be removed.

     [original: Nota quoque, quod ☿ ex 🜵 non fit sine sequestratione 🜍is Combustibilis Copiosi, Ergo & hoc ad Solificationem & Lunificationem sequestrari convenit.]

Etymology 2

• From solid +‎ -faction.

Noun

solifaction

1. (chemistry) making solid or with an end result that is solid.

   Antonyms: liquefaction, gasification

   • 1979, Helping insure our energy future, Committee for Economic Development, page 63:

     While this statement has focused on synthetic liquid and gaseous fuel, a related coal conversion technology is the coal solifaction process – converting coal into synthetic solid fuel. The solifaction process is somewhat similar to the first step in coal liquefaction techniques.