Crystallization is a process by which a solid forms, where the atoms or molecules are highly organized into a structure known as a crystal. The process occurs in two major steps: nucleation and crystal growth. Nucleation is the appearance of a crystalline phase from either a supercooled liquid or a supersaturated solvent. Crystal growth is the increase in the size of particles and leads to a crystal state. During crystal growth, loose particles form layers at the crystals surface and lodge themselves into open inconsistencies such as pores, cracks, etc. .
Crystallization is also a chemical solid-liquid separation technique, in which mass transfer of a solute from the liquid solution to a pure solid crystalline phase occurs. The process is related to precipitation, although the result is not amorphous.
Crystallization has various applications, including the purification of seawater, separation of alum crystals from impure samples, and in the pharmaceutical industry, where it is used as a separation and purification process for the synthesis and isolation of co-crystals, pure active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), controlled release pulmonary drug delivery, and separation of chiral isomers.
Crystallization is a natural process that occurs when materials solidify from a liquid, and it can also occur when a solid precipitates from a liquid or gas. The crystallization process occurs resulting in a change in the physical property of the liquid, such as the change in temperature, change in its acidity.
