What does it mean to join one chemical to another to prevent precipitation?

The term that describes joining one chemical to another to prevent precipitation is sequester. Sequestration in this context involves the formation of a stable complex with dissolved minerals or ions, which prevents them from coming together and forming solid phases that would precipitate out of solution. This process is commonly used in water treatment to keep certain minerals, such as calcium or magnesium, soluble in water, thereby avoiding scaling or sedimentation that could lead to operational issues in water systems.

In contrast, the other terms do not accurately convey the process of preventing precipitation. "Enrich" refers to increasing the concentrations of certain components in a solution, while "precipitate" is the result of the process itself, meaning to form a solid from a solution. "Neutralize" is related to balancing pH by adding an acid or base, which does not specifically address the prevention of precipitation. Thus, sequestering agents play a critical role in maintaining the chemistry of water by stabilizing various ions and preventing unwanted solid formation.