The general problem of mass transfer from a solid spherical surface in a fluid is discussed following consideration of the flow patterns around a sphere and actual dissolution of solid spheres in a controlled stream of water. Experimental mass-transfer data for the dissolution of 0∙5 in. benzoic acid spheres in a stream of water at room temperature are correlated by the equation
Kd
/
D
= 44 + 0∙48 R
0∙5
S
0∙33
, where
K
is the mass-transfer film coefficient,
d
the sphere diameter and
D
the diffusivity. From a consideration of mass transfer by natural and forced convection, the following general equation is proposed for the mass transfer from solid spheres in a fluid:
Kd
/
D
= 0∙50 (G' S)
0∙25
+ 0∙48 R
0∙5
S
0∙33
for G' S ⊀ 10
5
.