Nucleation in quiet supersaturated ADP solutions

Abstract The nucleation study has been made with supersaturated ADP solution. Rate of nucleation as indicated by the induction period was measured for non‐agitated system over the temperature range 20°C–45°C. The nucleation rate increases with increase in temperature but supersaturation has the dominant effect as predicted by classical nucleation theory. However, attempts to analyse the results in accordance with classical theory were not entirely successful, but it is shown how the assumption of (a) a variation of crystal surface energy with temperature and (b) the influence of heterogeneous nucleation can account for the discrepancies. Activation energies, surface free energies and sizes of crystal nuclei were determined for nuclei of ammonium dihydrogen orthophosphate over the range of temperature 20°C–45°C.