Definition of the word flotation

The word "flotation" is derived from the Latin word "fluerere," which means "to float." This word further evolved into the French word "flotation," which referred to the process of separating substances based on their density through floating and settling. In the 17th century, "fluidization" became a scientific term to describe the process of keeping a solid suspended in a liquid, and by the 19th century, the term "flotation" had expanded to describe the process of separating minerals from rocks using air bubbles to lift them to the surface. Today, "flotation" is commonly used to describe various techniques and methods that use buoyancy and separation forces for a range of applications from mining to healthcare.