Crystal Growth

Definition

The self reinforcing attachment of additional ions onto a nucleus, delocalizing charge across the growing lattice.

Each added ion participates in multiple electrostatic interactions, so the lattice behaves as a collective structure and breaking one interaction requires disturbing many. With each layer the system free energy decreases, turning a marginally stable cluster into a deeply stable solid. The first ordered surface lowers the activation energy for the next attachment, so order feeds on order and growth accelerates into hard adherent deposits.

Related concepts

Heat Transfer · Crystal Modification · Charge Delocalization

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Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🧪 chemistry