We’ve discussed that the crystalline structure of the snowflake is determined by the lattice structure for the crystal of water in the solid form. Yet, there is only one lattice structure for the water’s solid form (or is there*?). So, why should each snowflake be unique? I can only WAG that somehow the flight path of each individual flake is unique and impacts the “integrity” of the crystal’s structure - shaping the crystal this way or that - and hence making each flake unique. Is my WAG close to the scientific theory on this? - Jinx
*Extra Credit: Basic chemistry courses would tell us that the there is only one lattice structure as determined by the molecule’s structure. In contrast, a detailed weather article from Scientific American presents 7 regimes (IIRC) of conditions which determine 7 different geometries for a crystal of H2O. …hmm, how does chemistry explain why there are these regimes?