On the Solution-Body Phenomenon and the Anisotropy of Solution Rate in Zinc Crystals

Abstract

The solution-body phenomenon and the anisotropy of solution rate of hexagonal zinc crystals have been investigated with specimens of round-bar and sphere forms etched with concentrated nitric acid and with concentrated and dilute hydrochloric acids. It was found, as was expected, that the solution rate of zinc crystal in concentrated nitric acid was isotropic and hence no solution body was formed. Round-bar crystals, of which the rod axes, lie closely parallel to the [0001], [10\bar10], [11\bar20] and an intermediate direction, respectively, were tested with 29.6 and 6.1 percent hydrochloric acids. Irrespective of the concentration of the etchant, the [0001] crystals converted into hexagonal prisms and both [10\bar10] and [11\bar20] crystals transformed into elliptical prisms, the intermediately orientated crystals changing into slightly distorted hexagonal prisms. From the correspondence of the shapes of these solution bodies with crystal orientations as determined by means of light figures it is shown that the anisotropy of solution rate of zinc crystal in hydrochloric acids is in the following order:—
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Further, this series is shown to be valid also for the solution rate of zinc crystal in dilute sulphuric acid.