Chemistry Regents Practice Test 2026 – The All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

A precipitate is defined as a solid that forms and settles out of a liquid mixture during a chemical reaction. This process typically occurs when two solutions are mixed, and a reaction leads to the formation of an insoluble compound. The solid precipitate can then be collected by filtration or allowed to settle at the bottom of the container.

In the context of the other options, the first choice describes a liquid, which does not capture the definition of a precipitate. The second choice refers to gas, which is another state of matter but is not relevant to the precipitation process. The fourth choice mentions an unstable compound, which does not accurately describe the nature of a precipitate, as precipitates are typically stable solids that can exist in equilibrium with the solution under certain conditions. Thus, the definition provided aligns perfectly with option C, identifying it as the correct characterization of a precipitate.