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Related Concept Videos

Precipitation Processes01:12

Precipitation Processes

6.3K
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...
6.3K
Recrystallization: Solid–Solution Equilibria01:10

Recrystallization: Solid–Solution Equilibria

4.2K
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...
4.2K
Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization01:25

Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization

5.4K
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...
5.4K
Types of Coprecipitation01:10

Types of Coprecipitation

6.8K
Coprecipitation is the contamination of a precipitate by otherwise soluble species and occurs via different processes. In colloidal precipitates, coprecipitation occurs via surface adsorption. For instance, barium sulfate has a primary layer of adsorbed barium ions and a secondary layer of nitrate counterions. This results in contamination of the precipitate by barium nitrate.
Sometimes, ions in a crystal lattice can undergo isomorphous replacement by inclusions of similar charge and size. For...
6.8K
Washing, Drying, and Ignition of Precipitates00:52

Washing, Drying, and Ignition of Precipitates

6.9K
After filtration, the precipitate is washed to remove coprecipitated impurities and any remaining mother liquor. Colloidal precipitates, such as silver chloride, are washed with an electrolyte (such as dilute nitric acid) to prevent the peptization of the precipitate. In the case of slightly soluble precipitates, the wash solution contains a common ion to reduce solubility. Lead sulfate, which is slightly soluble in water, is washed with dilute sulfuric acid. Similarly, wash solutions may be...
6.9K
Phase Transitions: Sublimation and Deposition02:33

Phase Transitions: Sublimation and Deposition

20.5K
Some solids can transition directly into the gaseous state, bypassing the liquid state, via a process known as sublimation. At room temperature and standard pressure, a piece of dry ice (solid CO2) sublimes, appearing to gradually disappear without ever forming any liquid. Snow and ice sublimate at temperatures below the melting point of water, a slow process that may be accelerated by winds and the reduced atmospheric pressures at high altitudes. When solid iodine is warmed, the solid sublimes...
20.5K

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 1, 2026

Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
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Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses

Published on: June 7, 2018

9.0K

Obsidian forms by slow cooling.

E W Llewellin1, F B Wadsworth2, P Sullivan3

  • 1Earth Sciences, Durham University, Durham, UK. ed.llewellin@durham.ac.uk.

Nature Communications
|February 27, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Obsidian formation requires slow cooling to resorb bubbles, challenging the long-held belief that rapid cooling prevents crystal growth in volcanic glass. This research revises understanding of how this important natural glass forms.

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Metal-silicate Partitioning at High Pressure and Temperature: Experimental Methods and a Protocol to Suppress Highly Siderophile Element Inclusions
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Cooling Rate Dependent Ellipsometry Measurements to Determine the Dynamics of Thin Glassy Films
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Cooling Rate Dependent Ellipsometry Measurements to Determine the Dynamics of Thin Glassy Films

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Last Updated: Mar 1, 2026

Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
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Metal-silicate Partitioning at High Pressure and Temperature: Experimental Methods and a Protocol to Suppress Highly Siderophile Element Inclusions
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Cooling Rate Dependent Ellipsometry Measurements to Determine the Dynamics of Thin Glassy Films
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Cooling Rate Dependent Ellipsometry Measurements to Determine the Dynamics of Thin Glassy Films

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Area of Science:

  • Geology
  • Volcanology
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Obsidian, a natural volcanic glass, has been historically valued for its unique properties.
  • Its glassy nature is often attributed to rapid lava cooling, inhibiting crystallization.
  • The absence of vesicles (bubbles) in obsidian has reinforced this rapid cooling hypothesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the thermal conditions necessary for obsidian formation.
  • To challenge the conventional understanding of obsidian's cooling history.
  • To elucidate the role of bubble resorption in the formation of volcanic glass.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a bubble-resorption model for obsidian formation.
  • In-situ X-ray computed tomography experiments at magmatic temperatures.
  • Numerical modeling of bubble growth and resorption dynamics.
  • Validation of models against experimental data.

Main Results:

  • Obsidian formation necessitates relatively slow cooling (10^-4 to 10^-8 °C/s) for bubble resorption.
  • In-situ experiments confirmed bubble shrinkage during cooling.
  • Numerical models accurately predicted bubble resorption processes.
  • The study identified specific conditions for natural obsidian formation.

Conclusions:

  • The formation of obsidian requires slower cooling than previously assumed, allowing for bubble resorption.
  • This finding overturns conventional wisdom regarding the thermal history of obsidian-forming systems.
  • The research provides a revised framework for understanding the genesis of this significant volcanic material.