The Evolution of Crystal Shape During Dissolution: Predictions and Experiments

A comparison between a priori model predictions and experimental results for crystal shapes of succinic acid crystals dissolving in aqueous solution is presented. The model is the simplest possible model which neglects all effects other than a determination of which faces to include on the crystal habit and their perpendicular growth rates. The experiments are carried out in a thermostatted peltier cell and are imaged in situ using a microscope with digital imaging capabilities. The predicted and experimentally measured crystal shapes are very similar throughout the dissolution process. Thus, the experiments provide support for the model’s predictive power.