AbstractA comprehensive experimental study on the effect of fourteen different inorganic salts on the growth rate of NaCl single crystals is presented. The fourteen different inorganic salts are chosen as they are present in Chinese sea water. The impurity content of each salt has been varied according to its presence in the natural sea water. The impurities are differentiated in groups related to their effect on the growth rate of NaCl. The examined impurities are: MgCl2· 6 H2O, KCl, SrCl2, NaBr, Nal, NaF, Na2SO4, NaBO2· 4 H2O, Na2CO3, Na2SiO3· 9 H2O, ZnSO4, CuSO4· 5 H2O, PbCl2, and K4Fe(C