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fixative |
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fixative 1. a fluid usually consisting of a transparent resin, such as shellac, dissolved in alcohol and sprayed over drawings to prevent smudging 2. Cytology a fluid, such as formaldehyde or ethanol, that fixes tissues and cells for microscopic study 3. a substance added to a liquid, such as a perfume, to make it less volatile fixative [′fik·səd·iv] (materials) A chemical or a mixture of chemicals used to treat biological specimens before preservation so as to retain a reasonable facsimile of their appearance when alive. A substance used to increase the durability of another substance; used to fix dye mordants, hold textile dyes and pigments, and slow the rate of perfume evaporation. Also known as fixing agent. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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| ? Mentioned in | ? References in periodicals archive | |
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Around 1920, botanists started to embed plant samples in wax, first treating them with alcohol fixatives, which dissolved plant oils. Removing the fixative coatings--many of which are designed to peel off in large, easily disposable pieces--will clean away radioactive particles that had adhered. Samples of the fixative were analyzed to check for Hg content. |
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