Question

What happens when a crystal grows in size?

(a) It becomes softer

(b) It becomes smoother

(c) It becomes rough

(d) It becomes coarsely

The question was asked in an internship interview.

Asked question is from Crystal Growth topic in chapter Crystallization of Food Processing Unit Operations

Answer 1

Correct option is (b) It becomes smoother

Easiest explanation: As a crystal grows, new atoms attribute easily to the rougher and less stable parts of the surface, but less easily to the flat and stable sides. Therefore, the flat surfaces tend to grow larger and smoother, until the whole crystal surface consists of these plane surfaces.