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How many molecules are deposited each time a stalactite drips?
Stalactities build up slowly by small deposits of calcite (I think) that are left behind each time a drip falls from the stalactite. Can anyone give me an idea of roughly how molecules are left behind with each drip?
Also, I'm wondering why is it deposited - if it was dissolved in the water, why does it now come out of solution just because the stalactite is dripping? It can't be evaporation, as there is always dripping water...?
I know it would vary immensely, but are we talking 1000s, millions, billions or what? I just want one reasonable example number, thanks.
Just realised I left out a 'many' from my first paragraph. I meant to ask 'how many molecules'?
2 Answers
- 1 decade agoFavorite Answer
No, I can't, and I doubt anyone could. Depending on the size of the stalactite/stalagmite (and I'm henceforth going to call both speleothems, because it's easier) being deposited on, the mineral content of the water, and factors like air temperature and minerals involved would mean this would vary immensely from case to case. The answer wouldn't be very meaningful, anyway. The number would be very large and represent a very small amount of matter. Molecules are like that.
As for why it's deposited, think about everything that's going on. Water is adhesive, meaning it'd cling to the sides of the speleothem while evaporation does take place. Charges in the water and the dissolved minerals result in like being attracted to like. Depending on the content of the water, different mineral impurities will effect how much or little is actually deposited. It's a dynamic process.
Source(s): I once spent an entire semester staring at a single speleothem for a climate study and I feel I know them pretty intimately at this point. - ToniLv 41 decade ago
It's water that's dripping, and the size and the shape of the drop is mostly due to gravity, so the size and shape would be approximately equivalent to the drop from a pipette in chemistry class...if I recall, we used to count 10 drops to the ml.
If you're going to use that number for class, or anything else important, you better check it, but I recall it correctly I think.
This isn't my field, but I'd guess water, if the air is >32, is always evaporating from ice. Slowly, and that's the point. But dripping none the less.
