What triggers precipitation of cobalt hydroxide?

Precipitation starts once the ion product Q = [Co2+]·[OH-]^2 exceeds the solubility product Ksp, i.e. once the supersaturation ratio S = Q/Ksp rises above 1. Raising pH raises [OH-] and therefore Q, so higher pH drives stronger supersaturation.

Why does temperature change how easily it precipitates?

Ksp itself depends on temperature through the dissolution enthalpy. This simulation models Co(OH)2 dissolution as endothermic, so Ksp rises with temperature — making it harder to stay supersaturated and precipitate at higher temperatures for the same pH.

Why do many small particles form instead of a few large ones?

Nucleation rate follows classical nucleation theory, J ∝ exp(-B / ln²S): it rises sharply as S increases. A quick NaOH pulse that spikes S produces a burst of new nuclei (many small crystallites), while keeping S just above 1 favors growth of the particles that already exist (fewer, larger crystallites) — the nucleation-vs-growth trade-off that sets real precipitate morphology.

Home▸Chemistry & Materials▸Cobalt Hydroxide Precipitation (2D) — Ksp & Supersaturation Lab

Cobalt Hydroxide Precipitation (2D) — Ksp & Supersaturation Lab

2D Co(OH)2 precipitation lab: pH and temperature drive a real solubility-product (Ksp) calculation, a live supersaturation ratio S = Q/Ksp, and classical-nucleation-theory particle birth and growth kinetics.

Chemistry & Materials2DModerate60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 3D version

This 2D companion replaces the 3D original's generic industrial-flowchart animation with a real solubility-product model: pH and temperature set [OH-] and the temperature-adjusted Ksp, a live supersaturation ratio S = Q/Ksp drives classical-nucleation-theory particle birth and a growth rate proportional to (S−1), and a beaker view shows crystallites nucleating, growing or slowly redissolving as you move the sliders — the same nucleation-vs-growth trade-off that governs real precipitate particle size.

⚙ Under the hood

2D Co(OH)2 precipitation lab: pH and temperature drive a real Ksp / supersaturation-ratio (S = Q/Ksp) calculation, with classical-nucleation-theory particle birth and growth-rate kinetics.

cobalt hydroxidesolubility productsupersaturationnucleationcrystal growthprecipitation

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install