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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: awss on July 09, 2021, 10:53:40 AM

Title: Effects of ethanol on crystallization of a solute
Post by: awss on July 09, 2021, 10:53:40 AM

I have recently read that ethanol accelerates the crystallization process of a solute in a solution. What is the chemical phenomenon to which this relationship is due?

Furthermore, if you left a solution of unsaturated salted water, added ethanol to it and let it rest for a few days, would the salt crystallize?

Title: Re: Effects of ethanol on crystallization of a solute
Post by: Babcock_Hall on July 09, 2021, 12:02:26 PM

I hypothesize that ethanol would increase the crystallization rates of some solutes and slow down the rates of other solutes.  Would you care to propose a reason why this might be so?

Title: Re: Effects of ethanol on crystallization of a solute
Post by: jeffmoonchop on July 09, 2021, 01:14:37 PM

If the statement you've read is a direct quote, and is a general statement and not taken out of context (as in, referring to a particular system), it is false. I would elaborate, but rules state you need to show what you think first.