Dissolution of sulfuric acid tetrahydrate at low temperatures and subsequent growth of nitric acid trihydrate

Crystalline sulfuric acid tetrahydrate (SAT) has been observed to change phase at temperatures below its melting point, in agreement with recent theoretical predictions of deliquescence. Dissolution of SAT was observed in 63% of experiments expected to show a phase change, leading to formation of a ternary HNO 3 /H 2 SO 4 /H 2 O solution. This solution, which still contained a portion of the original solid SAT, crystallized to form nitric acid trihydrate (NAT). NAT then continued to grow by condensation of additional nitric acid and water at temperatures several degrees above the ice frost point. This process of SAT dissolution followed by NAT crystallization and growth may offer a mechanism for the formation of type Ia polar stratospheric clouds on frozen sulfate aerosols when S NAT > 15.

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