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Gibbs-thomson Effect




It leads to the fact that small liquid droplets (i.e. particles with a high surface curvature) exhibit a higher effective Vapor Pressure , since the surface is larger in comparison to the volume.

Another notable example of the Gibbs-Thomson effect is Ostwald Ripening , in which concentration Gradients cause small Precipitates to dissolve and larger ones to grow.

The Gibbs-Thomson equation for a precipitate with radius R is:

rac{p}{p_{eq}} = \exp{\left( rac{R_{critical}}{R} ight)}

R_{critical} = rac{2 \cdot \sigma \cdot V_{Atom}}{k_B \cdot T}

: V_{Atom} : Atomic volume
: k_B : Boltzmann Constant
: p_{eq} : Equilibrium partial pressure (or chemical potential or concentration)
: p : Partial pressure (or chemical potential or concentration)
: T : Absolute Temperature

Ostwald ripening is thought to occur in the formation of Orthoclase Megacrysts in granites as a consequence of Subsolidus growth. See Rock Microstructure for more.