Rates of homogeneous ice nucleation in levitated H2O and D2O droplets

J Phys Chem A. 2005 Mar 24;109(11):2540-6. doi: 10.1021/jp047665y.

Abstract

Rates of homogeneous nucleation of H2O droplets in a temperature range from 236.37 to 237.91 K and of D2O droplets from 241.34 to 242.33 K were measured. The single microdroplets consisted of pure H2O or D2O and were levitated in an electrodynamic balance. In comparison to H2O, D2O shows a stronger tendency to nucleate. Over the investigated temperature interval, D2O droplets need to be supercooled less by 1.1 K compared to H2O droplets in order to arrive at the same nucleation rate. This is in good agreement with the higher degree of intermolecular association in liquid D2O, a fact which has been well established previously both from theory and experimental studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cold Temperature
  • Deuterium Oxide / chemistry*
  • Freezing
  • Ice
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • Ice
  • Water
  • Deuterium Oxide