The growth of calcium tartrate crystals by gel method is well reported and hence considered here for the case study. An attempt has been made for the first time to address the question whether the sodium metasilicate (SMS) solution has any role, or gelling solution has any role in the growth of crystals and up to which limit the thin gel can grow the desired compound crystals. In this regard, several experiments were carried out; first, the direct reaction between calcium chloride and levo tartaric acid failed produce calcium tartarte precipitates but the addition of SMS resulted in to calcium tartarte precipitates; second, to investigate the role of gel pH and gel density, the pH of gelling solution comprised of SMS and levo tartaric acid was varied from 5.35 to 2.5 and calcium chloride supernatant solution was poured on the gel and it was found that the thin gels could not support the growth of crystals firmly; and third, as sodium hydroxide is produced in the gelling process, sodium hydroxide was added in the aqueous mixtures of calcium chloride and levo tartaric acid and precipitates of calcium levo tartrate were obtained. It was found that at low pH values, the thin gel produced the crystalline mass at the bottom of the growth vessel, but to grow good quality crystals firm gel was required, which could be obtained at sufficiently higher pH values. The SMS and NaOH solutions triggered calcium levo tartrate precipitations, but to set gel the SMS solution of proper pH was needed. The confirmations of the formation of calcium levo tartrate crystals, calcium levo tartrate precipitates and crystalline mass were carried out by powder XRD and FT – IR spectroscopy. The possible mechanism of SMS solution and SMS gel in the formation of crystals, crystalline mass and precipitates has been discussed.
