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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: juliat99 on September 28, 2018, 03:01:05 AM

Title: What is the rate limiting step in crystallization?
Post by: juliat99 on September 28, 2018, 03:01:05 AM

I read a bit about the process of how crystals form (we are doing recrystallization in lab tomorrow). Apparently the two major steps in crystallization are nucleation and crystal growth? (read on wikipedia). So would the rate limiting step be "nucleation"?
Please explain in detail if you can. Thanks.

Title: Re: What is the rate limiting step in crystallization?
Post by: Borek on September 28, 2018, 08:10:27 AM

This is a bit tricky, as which one is the limiting step depends on several factors (so there is no "one size fits all" answer). Sometimes it is nucleation, sometimes it is growth.