Influences of additives on the crystal habit of potassium chloride

Abstract

By means of constant control speed cooling crystallization, the influences of four additives, including lead chloride, cadmium chloride, sodium salicylate, and quaternary ammonium salt, on the crystal habit of KCl were investigated. The results show that the crystal habit of KCl is cube without additives, the crystal habit of KCl is ellipsoid-like in the presence of Pb²⁺, the crystal habit of KCl is strip in the presence of Cd²⁺, and the crystal habit of KCl is cavate cube in the presence of sodium salicylate. X-ray diffractometry analysis reveals that these additives can change the crystal habit of KCl but not its crystal structure.