Kiteytyy

Kiteytyy is a Finnish verb meaning "to crystallize" or "to undergo crystallization." It is the third-person singular present indicative form of the intransitive verb kiteytyä. The term is used to describe the transition of a substance from a dissolved, molten, or gaseous state into a solid phase consisting of crystals. The corresponding noun is kiteytyminen, crystallization, and the related noun kide means a crystal.

Kiteytyminen typically involves nucleation and crystal growth. Nucleation occurs when stable crystal seeds form, after which molecules or ions arrange into an orderly lattice as they join the solid phase. Conditions such as supersaturation, temperature changes, and evaporation or slow diffusion govern the rate and size of crystals. Impurities can influence crystal habit and may be incorporated into or excluded from the lattice, affecting purity and morphology.

In science, crystallization is a common method to purify and isolate compounds and to determine structures. In geology and mineralogy, crystals form as magma cools or as mineral-rich fluids precipitate minerals from solution. In materials science, crystallization affects polymers and colloids, with control over crystal size and arrangement to achieve desired properties.

Crystallization is related to, but distinct from, precipitation, deposition, and phase transitions. See also: crystallization, nucleation, crystal growth, precipitation, purification by crystallization.