decrepitate

verb

1. (transitive)To roast (a salt or mineral) until it stops crackling in the fire.

   “so will it come to pass in a pot of salt, although decrepitated; and so also in a pot of Snow.”

2. (intransitive)Of salts and minerals, to crackle when heated, indicating a sudden breakdown of their particles.

   “It is, however, remarkable, that the greater number of bodies which decrepitate, are really anhydrous and fixed, such as sulphate of potash, sulphate of barytes, chloride of sodium, &c.”

   “That substance was called salt, because, according to some authors, it is obtained by the action of the sun (sol) on sea-water, according to others, because it decrepitates in the fire (exsilire=to crackle and spring about).”