theoretical plate

noun

A plate or tray in a distillation column that produces the best possible difference between the liquid and vapor phases in equilibrium with it; the equivalent concept in a fractionating column packed with beads or rings.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nountheoretical plate (plural theoretical plates)

plural theoretical plates

  1. chemistryA plate or tray in a distillation column that produces the best possible difference between the liquid and vapor phases in equilibrium with it; the equivalent concept in a fractionating column packed with beads or rings.
Cite this entry
APA

theoretical plate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/theoretical%20plate

MLA

“theoretical plate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/theoretical%20plate. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “theoretical plate,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/theoretical%20plate.

Source: theoretical plate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.