In general terms, crystallization responds to a process used in chemistry, of solidification starting from a gas, liquid or even a solution (of ions, atoms or molecules), which are linked to form a crystalline network. It can also be said that it is the operation by means of which a component is separated from a liquid solution to be transferred to the solid phase. In other words, it is the reverse process of dissolution.
It can be crystallized by melting, dissolving or sublimation. In chemistry, the dissolution of a solid is widely used to be purified, through crystallization, since during the growth of the crystal, molecules of the same type, shape and size, come together and tend to exclude the presence of impurities.
In the process, the solid is subjected to an appropriate solvent that will be hot, thus obtaining a saturated solution. It is then cooled and in this process the solution becomes supersaturated, which begins to form small crystallization nuclei around the container that is being used or on the surface of the liquid itself. Thus, other molecules move and unite on the surface, producing the crystalline lattice. Finally, the crystals obtained are extracted from the water and washed, if they do not obtain the purity that was expected, they can repeat the process, using the same or another solvent.
It should be noted that if the formation of the solid is carried out in an orderly way, the crystals originate and therefore crystallization has occurred, but if this takes place in a disorderly way an amorphous solid originates and it is said that the solid has precipitated.
That is why it is recommended that crystallization be carried out slowly, since when it is cooled very quickly, dissolution can cause amorphous solids (which contain many impurities in the crystal lattices).
Finally, the term crystallization also receives other uses in everyday life. For example, it can be used to refer to ideas, feelings or projects that have materialized or that have been carried out, “what seemed crazy about Marco, crystallized into a great business”.
