Some Relations between the Supercooling and the Structure of Aqueous Solutions

An experimental method has been devised to determine the effect of water-soluble substances on the supercooling of pure water. It was found that solutes influence the supercooling of water in a systematic manner. The nonequilibrium freezing-point depression of a solution (Δt)f varied with the type of solute and, for a particular solute, increased with increasing solute concentration. The depression (Δt)f could be related to the equilibrium freezing point depression of the solution (Δt)e, the supercooling of water (Δt)w and a supercooling increment δ which depended on the type of solute. Some relations between the experimental results and the structure of aqueous solutions are discussed.