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Is the rate of crystallization higher when the solution is more saturated?

A) True
B) False

1 Answer

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Final answer:

True, the rate of crystallization is higher when the solution is more saturated, as there are more solute molecules available to form crystals, especially when the solution reaches supersaturation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question at hand is: Is the rate of crystallization higher when the solution is more saturated? The answer to this question is True. When a solution is more saturated, it contains a higher concentration of solute relative to the amount of solvent. This means that there are more solute molecules available to form crystals. As the solution reaches a state of supersaturation, the solute molecules start to organize into a solid form, which is the process of crystallization.

For example, when salt is added to water, it will dissolve until the point of saturation is reached. Any additional salt after this point will lead to supersaturation, where excess solute begins to crystallize out of the solution. This is because there is no more room for the solute to dissolve and the extra solute molecules start attaching to each other, forming crystals.

The phenomenon of crystallization can also be observed when performing experiment 50. If you place salt on an ice cube, this causes the freezing point of the water around the ice cube to lower, causing it to refreeze more quickly over the thread, which allows you to lift the ice cube with the thread. This is a direct manipulation of the saturation levels of solute and solvent and impacts the rate of crystallization (or re-crystallization in the case of freezing).

Another related concept to understand is osmolality, which is mentioned in relation to Solution B in the example. Osmolality measures the moles of solute per kilogram of solvent, and thus a higher osmolality indicates a more concentrated solution which can also affect crystallization rates. As such, a more concentrated solution will typically have a higher crystallization rate, assuming other conditions such as temperature and presence of seed crystals are conducive. In conclusion, the rate of crystallization is indeed higher when the solution is more saturated.

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