noun
- a substance or particle that serves as a center around which crystallization, condensation, or other phase changes begin
Usage: scientific; chemistry; physics
Examples
- Ice crystals form around dust particles that act as nucleators in the atmosphere.
- The scientist added a nucleator to encourage crystal formation in the solution.
- Silver iodide serves as an effective nucleator for cloud seeding operations.
- Without proper nucleators, the crystallization process would be much slower.
- The research focused on finding better nucleators for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- Bacteria can function as nucleators for ice formation at relatively warm temperatures.