Classical Nucleation Theory

Classical Nucleation Theory explains how small clusters of particles, called nuclei, form within a liquid when it begins to transition into a solid or another phase. These nuclei form because of fluctuations that make some clusters more stable than others. The theory predicts how likely a nucleus is to grow or dissolve based on factors like temperature and surface energy. Once a nucleus reaches a critical size, it becomes stable enough to grow spontaneously, leading to the formation of a new phase, such as ice in water or crystals in a melt.