Морфологія (Mar 2018)
Arborization of salt crystals in the aspect of plant morphology
Abstract
Abstract. Background. It was previously shown that the evaporation of a salt solution prepared on water with a positive electrical potential is accompanied by the formation of cubic or rhombic crystals, and the evaporation of a salt solution prepared on water with a negative electrical potential is accompanied by the formation of needle-like or plant crystals (the last phenomenon is called arborization or ferning). It was also shown that cubic or rhombic crystals are formed on positively charged surfaces, whereas needle crystals are formed on negatively charged surfaces. Objective. The aim of the work was to test the hypothesis of the crystallization of living matter. Results. The data confirming the validity of the hypothesis of crystallization of living matter, at least in relation to plants. Using the described relationships, it is possible to control the shape of the formed crystals. So, by varying the electrical potential of the water used for preparation of salt solutions and using different surfaces, it is possible to obtain crystals of different shapes. Look particularly impressive crystals that have formed after evaporation of a solution of CuSO4. It should be also noted that these dependences are observed not only for the salt crystals, but for some of the metals. The results presented in Figures 3-6 will undoubtedly be attractive to researchers who accept the hypothesis of crystallization in living matter: these researchers suggest that crystallization is the link between living and non-living matter. In any case, the examples of arborization of salt crystals demonstrated here are so expressive that one can doubt that the morphological characteristics of plants are determined exclusively by their genotypes. It can be also expected that the results will be useful to all physiologists and medics, who use the arborization for the diagnosis, including ophthalmologists and neuroscientists. Conclusion. The hypothesis of crystallization of living matter is not unfounded.
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