decrepitate

Definitions

1. To roast (a salt or mineral) until it stops crackling in the fire.
   transitive
2. Of salts and minerals, to crackle when heated, indicating a sudden breakdown of their particles.
   intransitive

Examples

“so will it come⟳ to pass⟳ in a pot of salt, although decrepitated; and so also in a pot of Snow⟳.”

“It is, however, remarkable, that the greater number⟳ of bodies which decrepitate, are really anhydrous and fixed, such as sulphate of potash, sulphate of barytes, chloride of sodium, &c.”

“That substance was called salt, because, according to some authors, it is obtained by the action of the sun (sol) on sea-water, according to others, because it decrepitates in the fire (exsilire=to crackle and spring⟳ about).”

CEFR level