Principles of Crystal Nucleation and Growth

Abstract

In the most general sense, biomineralization is a process by which organisms produce materials solutions for their own functional requirements. Because so many biomineral products are derived from an initial solution phase and are either completely crystalline or include crystalline components, an understanding of the physical principles of crystallization from solutions is an important tool for students of biomineralization. However, crystal growth is a science of great breadth and depth, about which many extensive texts have been written. In addition, there are already other thorough reviews that specifically address the crystal growth field of study as it relates to biomineral formation. Consequently, the goals of this chapter are both modest and specific. It is intended to provide: 1) a simple narrative explaining the physical principles behind crystallization for those who are completely new to the topic, 2) a few basic equations governing nucleation and growth for those who wish to apply those principlesat least in a semi-quantitative fashionto experimental observations of mineralization, and 3) an overview of some recent molecular-scale studies that have revealed new insights into the control of crystal growth by small molecules, both organic and inorganic.