Revision 1

Superseded · first revision · record

Title: When does crystal nucleation proceed in two steps
Plain: Some crystals, for example of proteins, appear to form first as dense liquid-like blobs that later order inside. When this two-step route beats direct crystal formation, and what rate it gives, is not known.
Precise: For globular proteins such as lysozyme, colloids with short-range attraction and some small molecules, crystals are reported to nucleate within metastable dense-liquid droplets or amorphous precursors. Determine for which interaction ranges and supersaturations the two-step pathway dominates the rate, and derive a rate expression replacing CNT that predicts measured rates.
Settled by: A rate theory for the two-step pathway whose predictions match rare-event simulations and measured nucleation rates in protein or colloid experiments.
Kind: phenomenon
Answer type: mechanism
References: (empty)
Literature status: open
Status note: (empty)
Posed since: (empty)