Crystallization is a physicochemical process involving the formation of solid crystals, which are solids whose atoms, molecules, or ions are arranged in a highly ordered, repeating, crystalline pattern. This process typically occurs when a solute transitions from a solution, melt, or gas phase into a solid state. The crystallization process generally involves supersaturation, where the concentration of the solute exceeds its solubility limit, causing nucleation (the initial formation of stable solid particles) followed by crystal growth. The resulting crystal structure dictates the material's physical and chemical properties, making crystallization a fundamental technique used in chemistry and materials science for purification, characterization, and the synthesis of new compounds.