The effects of Mg2+ and H+ on apatite nucleation at silica surfaces

Apatite (Ca10[PO4]6[OH]2) precipitation from aqueous solutions involves multiple steps, such as nucleation of a precursor calcium phosphate phase, cluster aggregation, crystal growth, and transformation to apatite, which are affected by the presence of other ions in solution. I report the mechanisms by which two ions common in natural solutions, Mg2+ and H+, affect heterogeneous calcium phosphate nucleation on the amorphous silica surface.