Crystal Size
Crystal Size - Related Videos
13:38
Synthesis of Biocompatible Liquid Crystal Elastomer Foams as Cell Scaffolds for 3D Spatial Cell Cultures
0 Views •
Cited by 9 •
2017
This study presents a methodology to prepare 3D, biodegradable, foam-like cell scaffolds based on biocompatible side-chain liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs). Confocal microscopy experiments show that foam-like LCEs allow for cell attachment, proliferation, and the spontaneous alignment of C2C12s myoblasts.
07:39
Protein Crystallization
0 Views •
2023
Protein crystallization, obtaining a solid lattice of biomolecules, elucidates protein structure and enables the study of protein function. Crystallization involves drying purified protein under a combination of many factors, including pH, temperature, ionic strength, and protein concentration. Once crystals are obtained, the protein structure can be elucidated by x-ray diffraction and computation of an electron density model. This video introduces protein crystallization and shows a general...
02:42
Ionic Crystal Structures
0 Views •
2020
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...
11:41
Crystallization of Salicylic Acid via Chemical Modification
0 Views •
2023
Source: Kerry M. Dooley and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA Processing of biochemicals involves unit operations such as crystallization, ultracentrifugation, membrane filtration, and preparative chromatography, all of which have in common the need to separate large from small molecules, or solid from liquid. Of these, crystallization is the most important from a tonnage standpoint. For that reason, it is commonly employed in the...
11:53
Crystallization of Membrane Proteins in Lipidic Mesophases
0 Views •
Cited by 30 •
2011
The protocols describe the essential steps for obtaining diffraction quality crystals of a membrane protein starting from reconstitution of the protein in a lipidic cubic phase (LCP), finding initial conditions with LCP-FRAP pre-crystallization assays, setting up LCP crystallization trials and harvesting crystals.
FAQs
Crystal size reflects the balance between nucleation, which creates new crystals, and growth, which enlarges existing ones. Conditions that favor many nucleation events can produce numerous fine crystals, whereas sustained growth with fewer nuclei can yield larger crystals. This distinction helps explain why mineral products formed under different environmental conditions may have contrasting grain sizes and behaviors.
Supersaturation, temperature, cooling rate, solvent chemistry, and available growth time all influence the final size. Changes in supersaturation affect whether crystals form readily, while temperature and cooling rate regulate how long growth can continue. Solvent chemistry can modify crystal development, and longer growth periods generally provide more opportunity for crystals to enlarge rather than remain fine-grained.
Size changes the surface area available for interaction with surrounding water, dissolved substances, and other particles. Fine crystals generally provide more exposed surface relative to their amount of material, which can influence dissolution and chemical reactivity. Larger crystals may behave differently because their surface-area relationship changes, affecting mineral transformation and contaminant interactions in environmental systems.
Researchers can compare crystal-size measurements with mineral formation conditions, weathering patterns, sediment structure, and particle behavior. These comparisons help connect physical characteristics to processes occurring in soils and water. Interpreting size alongside environmental observations can clarify whether materials formed, changed, or accumulated under conditions that favored fine-grained or larger crystalline structures.
Crystal size can provide context for understanding mineral formation, weathering, and sediment organization. It also helps evaluate how particles aggregate, move through environmental systems, or remain retained in soils and water. Because these processes influence geochemical cycling and water quality, size data can contribute to broader interpretations of how minerals and particles behave in natural settings.
Crystal size influences the surface area, dissolution behavior, aggregation, and movement of particles that interact with contaminants. These properties can affect whether contaminants remain associated with particles, are transported through water, or become retained in soil. Consequently, measuring size supports investigations of contaminant behavior, water quality, geochemical cycling, and environmental remediation strategies.