Abstract
Crystals of some benzenoid compounds are found to have abilities of ice nucleation in a laboratory experiment. Terephthalic acid and phthalic acid are superior to the most effective silicate minerals in that ability. Formation of hydrogenbonded linkage between water molecule and carboxyl group is suggested to be an origin of their property of ice nucleation.
Possible meteorological significance of organic ice nuclei for the formation of rainfall in maritime airmasses is discussed.
