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Synthetic methods
Given the diversity of solid-state compounds, an equally diverse array of methods are used for their preparation.

Ceramic method
The ceramic method is one of the most common synthesis techniques. The synthesis occurs entirely in the solid state. Generally, the reactants are ground together, formed into a pellet, and heated at high temperatures in an oven.

Using a mortar and pestle or ball mill, the reactants are ground together, which decreases size and increases surface area of the reactants. If the mixing is not sufficient, we can use techniques such as co-precipitation and sol-gel. A chemist forms pellets from the ground reactants and places the pellets into containers for heating. The choice of container depends on the precursors, the reaction temperature and the expected product. For example, metal oxides are typically synthesized in silica or alumina containers. A tube furnace heats the pellet. Tube furnaces are available for purchase up to maximum temperatures of 2800oC.

Melt methods
Another synthetic technique involves melting the reactants together and then annealing the solidified melt. When using volatile reactants, the reactants are put in an ampoule. The bottom of the ampoule is kept in liquid nitrogen and sealed. An oven heats the sealed ampoule. In the presence of the molten flux, certain grains may grow rapidly within a matrix of finer crystallites. The solid can have abnormal grain growth (AGG), which may or may not be desirable.

Intercalation method
Intercalation synthesis is the insertion of molecules or ions between layers of a solid. The layered solid has weak intermolecular bonds holding its layers together. The process occurs via diffusion. Intercalation is further driven by ion exchange, acid-base reactions or electrochemical reactions. The intercalation method was first used in China with the discovery of porcelain. Also, the intercalation method produces graphene and is the principle behind lithium-ion batteries.

Solution methods
It is possible to use solvents to prepare solids by precipitation or by evaporation. At times, the solvent is a hydrothermal that is under pressure at temperatures higher than the normal boiling point. A variation on this theme is the use of flux methods, which use a salt with a relatively low melting point as the solvent.

Gas reactions
Many solids react vigorously with gas species like chlorine, iodine, and oxygen. Other solids form adducts, such as CO or ethylene. Such reactions are conducted in open-ended tubes, which the gasses are passed through. Also, these reactions can take place inside a measuring device such as a TGA. In that case, stoichiometric information can be obtained during the reaction, which helps identify the products.

Chemical vapor transport results in very pure materials. The reaction typically occurs in a sealed ampoule. A transporting agent, added to the sealed ampoule, produces a volatile intermediate species from the solid reactant. For metal oxides, the transporting agent is usually Cl2 or HCl. The ampoule has a temperature gradient, and, as the gaseous reactant travels along the gradient, it eventually deposits as a crystal. An example of an industrially-used chemical vapor transport reaction is the Mond process. The Mond process involves heating impure nickel in a stream of carbon monoxide to produce pure nickel.

Chemical vapour deposition is a method widely used for the preparation of coatings and semiconductors from molecular precursors. A carrier gas transports the gaseous precursors to the material for coating.

* for note, there are two images in the synthesis section of the Wikipedia article that will not copy over to the sandbox