Ice nucleation in solutions and freeze-avoiding insects—homogeneous or heterogeneous?

Abstract

This article challenges the common view that solutions and cold-hardy freeze-avoiding insects always freeze by heterogeneous nucleation. Data are presented to show that the nucleation temperatures of a variety of solutions and freeze-avoiding insects are a function of the water volume as described by the data previously published by Bigg in 1953. The article also points out that the relationships between melting point depression and depression of nucleation temperature are different for samples undergoing homogeneous nucleation and those undergoing heterogeneous nucleation. Aqueous solutions and freeze-avoiding insects display a relationship like that of homogeneously nucleated samples. It is also argued that the identity of the “impurities” assumed to cause heterogeneous nucleation in aqueous solutions and insects is obscure and that the “impurities” have features which make their existence rather unlikely.