Question

During the reactivity of solids, two stages that may usually be identified are Nucleation of the product and its subsequent growth. When is nucleation facilitated?

(a) When there is a structural similarity between the products

(b) When there is structural similarity between the reactants

(c) When there is structural dissimilarity between the product and the reactant

(d) When there is structural similarity between the product and the reactant

The question was posed to me by my school teacher while I was bunking the class.

Question is from Solid State Reaction in division Preparative Methods of Solid State Chemistry

Answer 1

Correct option is (d) When there is structural similarity between the product and the reactant

Easiest explanation: Nucleation is facilitated if there is structural similarity between the product and one or both of the reactants because this reduces the amount of structural reorganization that is necessary for nucleation to occur.