Making Crystals

Aim: To learn about a saturated solution and how to make crystals

Crystal video

Definition of the solution: 

A liquid mixture, when something is dissolved into a liquid (eg: sugar in water) 

Definition of saturated: 

Having or holding as much as can be absorbed of something (when no more sugar or borax can be dissolved into the water)

In groups of three, you will make three different types of crystals and compare the results.

Borax Crystals

Borax Crystals time-lapse video

Ratio; 3 Tablespoons Borax per 1/2 cup water

Materials

1) Cup

2) Borax

3) Water

4) Mixing tool 

5) Peg
6) Pipe cleaner

Process

Step 1: pour water into your cup

Step 2: pour borax into your cup

Step 3: Mix it up

Step 4: make a star with pipe cleaners

Step 6: Attach your star to your peg and hang the star into your cup.

Sugar Crystals
Sugar crystals video

Ratio: 1 cup sugar to 1/2 cup water

Materials

1) Cup

2) Sugar

3) Water

4) MIx tool
5) String

Process

Step 1: pour water into your cup

Step 2: pour sugar into your cup

Step 3: Mix it up

Step 4: Get an ice cream stick and tie your string on it so it's hanging into the cup

Step 5: Then wait 

Step 6:

Salt Crystals

Salt crystals time-lapse video

Ratio: 4 Tablespoons salt to 1/2 cup water

Materials

1) Cup

2) Salt

3) Water

4) Mix tool

5) String

Process

Step 1: pour water into your cup

Step 2: pour salt into your cup

Step 3: Mix it up

Step 4: Get an ice cream stick and tie your string on it so it's hanging into the cup

Step 5: Then wait for Step 6:

Findings

Describe your crystals in the table below.

Crystal Type	Shape (Describe the shape)	Size (of individual crystals)	Hardness (Crumbly to Rock Hard)
Borax	diamond sharp	medium	Hard
Sugar	long sharp	small	hard
Salt	sharp	Small	hard

What crystals worked out best and why?:

Conclusion:

Explain how the following crystals are formed:

Type	Explanation
Salt	when the water starts to evaporate from the fluid, the smallest particles begin to link together making the crystals.
Sugar	When the water starts to evaporate, the fluid turns soggier and sugar fragment will proceed to go out of the fluid and get on the seed crystals on the string
Snowflakes	A snowflake begins to form when it sudenly cold water droplet freezes onto a pollen or dust grain in the sky.