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Related Concept Videos

Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization01:25

Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization

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Crystallization is a phase transformation process in which crystals are precipitated from a supersaturated solution or formed from other sources. During crystallization, atoms or molecules arrange themselves into a well-defined, rigid crystal lattice to minimize energy.
Initiating crystallization involves manipulating the concentration of the solute and the temperature of the solution. Since crystal growth occurs when the ratio of concentration and solubility of the solute in the solvent...
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Recrystallization: Solid–Solution Equilibria01:10

Recrystallization: Solid–Solution Equilibria

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Recrystallization is a purification technique used to separate impurities from solid compounds. In this technique, no chemical reactions occur. Instead, it exploits physical properties only, specifically, the solubility differences between the desired compound and impurities, either at a single temperature or at different temperatures, and under other selected conditions. The solid-solution equilibrium (solubility equilibrium) of each component in the solution represents a binary phase...
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Structures of Solids02:22

Structures of Solids

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Solids in which the atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged in a definite repeating pattern are known as crystalline solids. Metals and ionic compounds typically form ordered, crystalline solids. A crystalline solid has a precise melting temperature because each atom or molecule of the same type is held in place with the same forces or energy. Amorphous solids or non-crystalline solids (or, sometimes, glasses) which lack an ordered internal structure and are randomly arranged. Substances that...
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Solution Equilibrium and Saturation01:59

Solution Equilibrium and Saturation

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Imagine adding a small amount of sugar to a glass of water, stirring until all the sugar has dissolved, and then adding a bit more. You can repeat this process until the sugar concentration of the solution reaches its natural limit, a limit determined primarily by the relative strengths of the solute-solute, solute-solvent, and solvent-solvent attractive forces. You can be certain that you have reached this limit because, no matter how long you stir the solution, undissolved sugar remains. The...
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Precipitation Processes01:12

Precipitation Processes

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The experimental conditions in a gravimetric analysis should be optimized to maximize the particle size and purity of the obtained precipitate. Ideally, the concentration of the precipitating reagent should be low with effective stirring to maintain low relative supersaturation for the growth of large crystals. In homogeneous precipitation, the precipitant is slowly generated by a chemical reaction in the solution to avoid local reagent excesses. For example, urea decomposes gradually to...
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Ionic Crystal Structures02:42

Ionic Crystal Structures

15.4K
Ionic crystals consist of two or more different kinds of ions that usually have different sizes. The packing of these ions into a crystal structure is more complex than the packing of metal atoms that are the same size.
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction. Consequently, stable structures for ionic compounds result (1) when ions of one charge are surrounded by as many ions as possible of the opposite...
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Updated: Sep 27, 2025

Growing Protein Crystals with Distinct Dimensions Using Automated Crystallization Coupled with In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering
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Precrystallization solute assemblies and crystal symmetry.

Monika Warzecha1, Lakshmanji Verma2, Rajshree Chakrabarti2

  • 1EPSRC, CMAC, Future Manufacturing Research Hub, c/o Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Technology and Innovation Centre, 99 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1RD, UK.

Faraday Discussions
|April 8, 2022
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Crystal growth is complex; the units forming crystals (growth units) are often not the most abundant molecules in solution. This study reveals a surprising disconnect between solute form, growth unit, and crystal symmetry in organic materials.

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Crystallization Science
  • Chemical Engineering

Background:

  • Predicting crystal structure, growth, and properties is hindered by poor understanding of solute oligomeric state, growth unit, and crystal symmetry correlations.
  • Oligomeric states in solution and their incorporation into crystal lattices remain poorly understood, impacting materials synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how solute monomers or oligomers are selected as growth units incorporating into crystal kinks.
  • To explore the impact of crystal symmetry on the selection of growth units during solution crystallization.

Main Methods:

  • Combined scanning probe microscopy, optical spectroscopy, and all-atom molecular simulations.
  • Studied two organic materials: olanzapine (OZPN) and etioporphyrin I (EtpI).

Main Results:

  • Solute monomers are the majority species in solution for both OZPN and EtpI.
  • Surprisingly, OZPN crystallization kinetics indicate dimers are the growth units, despite being a minority in solution.
  • EtpI exhibits further complexity, with different faces incorporating different growth units (monomers vs. dimers).

Conclusions:

  • The dominant solute species in solution does not correlate with the growth unit or crystal symmetry.
  • Crystallization scenarios are far more complex than previously assumed, requiring further exploration for control and understanding.
  • Findings challenge simple models of crystal growth and highlight the need for advanced characterization techniques.