Abstract
The factor of 1017 proposed by Lothe and Pound in the theory of nucleation of droplets from the vapor phase is studied using classical statistical mechanics. The controversial factorΦ is derived from partition functions for an isolatedn-mer and for ann-molecular cluster imbedded in the bulk liquid phase. The rotational degrees of freedom have no place inΦ, in agreement with Reiss, Katz, and Cohen's treatment. It is proved that the surface free energy of a cluster is proportional to the surface area. The estimate of what Lothe and Pound called the replacement term is different from those of previous authors. It is concluded thatΦ is written as a ratioΦ =Ν g/Νl, where Νg andν l , are the volumes per molecule in the gas phase and in the liquid phase, respectively. For water at 300‡K,Φ is approximately equal to 104.
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References
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Kikuchi, R. The translation-rotation paradox in the nucleation theory. J Stat Phys 1, 351–375 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01007485
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01007485