Saostuvat

Saostuvat is the Finnish verb form meaning “they settle” or “they precipitate.” It is the third-person plural present indicative form of the verb saostua, which generally denotes the process by which a solid phase forms and separates from a liquid or suspension. The phenomena described by saostua include sedimentation, precipitation, and the formation of a solid deposit, often called a saostuma in Finnish.

In scientific usage, saostuvat appears in chemistry, geology, environmental science, and related fields to describe particles or dissolved substances that come out of solution and accumulate as a sediment or crystalline phase. It can refer to natural processes, such as mineral precipitation in groundwater, as well as engineered processes, like the removal of solids in wastewater treatment. The related noun saostuma denotes the resulting deposit, while saostuminen or sedimentaatio can be used for the broader process of solid formation from a liquid.

Grammatically, saostuvat follows the typical Finnish verb conjugation for -ua verbs, with the full present tense paradigm: saostun, saostut, saostuu, saostumme, saostutte, saostuvat. The form is strictly plural and refers to multiple subjects performing the action.

Examples:

- Partikkelit saostuvat pohjalle ja muodostavat saostuman.

- Kun liuosta rikastetaan, epäorgaaniset suolat saostuvat ja voidaan erottaa saostuman kautta.

See also: saostuma, saostuminen, sedimentaatio.