What is the process called that separates a solid precipitate from a liquid?

The process that separates a solid precipitate from a liquid is called filtration. This technique involves passing a mixture containing the solid and liquid through a filter, which allows the liquid to pass through while retaining the solid on the filter medium. Filtration is particularly effective for separating insoluble solids from liquids in various applications, such as in laboratories and chemical processes.

Other methods listed, such as evaporation, are used to separate components based on differences in boiling points or volatility, while distillation is a technique for separating mixtures based on differences in boiling points, typically involving liquids. Centrifugation uses high-speed spinning to separate substances based on density, which can also separate solids from liquids, but it operates on a different principle than simple filtration. Hence, filtration is the most direct and appropriate method for the given context of separating a solid precipitate from a liquid.