TITLE:
Etching and Micro-Topographical Studies of Barium Oxalate Crystals Grown in Agar Gel
AUTHORS:
Paresh V. Dalal, Kishor B. Saraf
KEYWORDS:
Etching, Barium Oxalate, Micro-Topographical Studies, Activation Energies
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Crystallization Process and Technology,
Vol.1 No.1,
April
15,
2011
ABSTRACT: In the present study, the selection of an etchant for a particular crystal was purely made on empirical basis. The gel grown barium oxalate crystals were etched by HCl, HNO3, BaCl2, NH4Cl, and NH4Cl-HCl solutions. Micro-topographical studies have been made and it was found that elongated triangular etch pits and pits within pits were formed. Rectangular growth layers in the form of staircase and leaf like dendrite pattern were seen. Kinetics of etching was studied. Quantitative estimation of dissolved crystals in etchants was used for the determination of activation energy of reaction and pre-exponential factor with the help of Arrhenius equation.