Word of the day: eutectic

The word of the day is eutectic:

Etymology:  Greek εὔτηκτος easily melting (εὐ-eu- comb. form + τήκ-ειν to melt) + -ic suffix.

A. adj.

That is a eutectic; of or pertaining to a eutectic or its liquefaction or solidification; eutectic point, the melting-point of a eutectic, or the point representing it in a constitutional diagram. 

B. n.

A mixture which is distinguished from other mixtures of the same constituents in different proportions by having a single temperature at which it melts and freezes, this temperature being lower than the freezing-point of any of the constituents or of any other mixture of them. Also fig.  (OED)

"Two eutectic points are postulated to occur: one at a very low 1,2-DPG concentration and the other at a 1,2-DPG concentration slightly higher than 66 mol%."

 - López-García et al., "The phase behavior of mixed aqueous dispersions of dipalmitoyl derivatives of phosphatidylcholine and diacylglycerol", Biophysical Journal 66:1991 (June 1994)