Solubility of Small AgI Particles in NaI and KI Solutions: Significance to Cloud Seeding

Abstract

Utilizing standard solubility data in the literature it is seen that for 2:1 mole ratio AgI:NaI (or KI) aerosol compositions only AgI particles <0.01 ? radius are in danger of complete dissolution into hygroscopically derived solution envelopes containing NaI, or KI. This condition develops only momentarily when sufficient water vapor has accreted to form a saturated solution about the AgI particle. Taking a typical AgI-NaI aerosol such as that studied by Mossop and Tuck-Lee as representative of generated aerosols, only a small part of the AgI can be dissolved under the most favorable atmospheric conditions; particles representing the median size for this aerosol, of 0.042 ? radius, will lose only 35 weight percent of the AgI present. Very similar relations hold for KI-bearing aerosols.