Hydrates in supersaturated binary sulfuric acid–water vapor: A reexamination

Abstract

The influence of hydrates formation on the energetics of nucleation has been reexamined. The distribution Nh of hydrates containing one acid molecule and h water molecules has been calculated as a function of the relative humidity and acid vapor concentration. A new formula giving the reversible work required to form a droplet has been derived. Hydrate formation can exert an appreciable effect on the energetics of nucleation in the H2SO4–H2O system and must be included in any theory of nucleation rate.