Electrolyte crystal growth kinetics

The growth rate of an electrolyte crystal in a supersaturated aqueous solution depends on the concentrations of the constituent ions. These concentrations may be varied independently when indifferent ions are present. For a binary electrolyte AαBβ the dependence of the rate on the concentrations of the ions A and B may be presented as isograms for constant growth rate in a diagram with the coordinates [A] and [B], or similar. The growth rate is controlled by the transport of the ions A and B through the solution by convection and diffusion, or by a process in the crystal surface, or by a combination hereof. The following surface controlled kinetics have been indentified: linear, parabolic, and exponential kinetics. They are related, respectively, to the adsorption process, to the integration of ions in screw dislocation centred surface spiral steps, and to the formation and growth of surface nuclei. Growth rates are reported for the following electrolytes: AgCl, CaF 2 , SrF 2 , Ag 2 C 2 O 4 , BaSO 4 , CaCO 3 , and CaC 2 O 4 ·H 2 O.