Requirements of an Ice Nucleus

Abstract

THE ability of a substance to nucleate ice is thought to depend on two factors, the first being the fit¹ between the ice lattice and the lattice of the nucleator, the second being the nature of the chemical bonding between the ice and the nucleator. The importance of the latter factor has been proved experimentally by showing the dependence of nucleation on the surface charge of silver iodide under conditions which did not alter the fit². However, the role of fit remains in doubt because, although some good nucleators do exhibit good fit, there are exceptions which cast doubt on the theory³, and some authors have suggested that only chemical factors are of importance^4,5.