Replica studies of a freshly-cleaved surface of a NaCl single crystal which had been treated for 15 seconds with a relatively impure (bulk) methanol revealed the presence of a large number of three-dimensional oriented overgrowths having cubic symmetry (Fig. 1). Attempts to reproduce such morphological surface phenomena about 6 months later with the same methanol were not successful, possibly due to “aging” of the methanol. Treatment for 15 seconds with A.C.S. methanol did not result in any significant surface morphology. So far, the nature of the impurity in the bulk methanol has not been identified; however, analyses indicate that it is present in an amount less than 0.15%. All surface treatments of NaCl were followed by a 5-second rinse in A.C.S. acetone and another 5-second rinse in petroleum ether (Skelly B). Neither rinse contributed to surface morphology. Freshly cleaved NaCl surfaces were also treated with 1.25% by weight of A.C.S. NH4Cl in A.C.S. methanol and 1.36% by weight of U.S.P. 37% formaldehyde-water-methanol solution in A.C.S. methanol.
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