Crazy Crystals

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) Pipe Cleaners

2) Peg

3) Borax

4) Stirring Stick

5) Warm Water   

Process

Step 1: Shape pipe cleaners into stars 

Step 2: Hang star o

Step 3: Label your cup

Step 4: Make up a salt solution

Step 5: Tie some string onto your stirring stick

Step 6: Make sure the string is in the Saturated solution

Sugar Crystals

Sugar crystals video

Ratio: 1 cup sugar to 1/2 cup water

Materials

1) String

2) Sugar

3) Cup

4) Stirring Stick

5) Warm Water

Process

Step 1: Make your Saturated mixture

Step 2: Mix it for about 5-10 mins

Step 3: Tie a piece of string onto your stirring stick

Step 4: Place it into your mixture and 
Step 5: Wait for maybe a week

Salt Crystals

Salt crystals time-lapse video

Ratio: 4 Tablespoons salt to 1/2 cup water

Materials

1) Pipe Cleaners

2) String

3) Pegs

4) Cups

5) Salt

Process

Step 1: Make your Saturated mixture

Step 2: Mix it for about 5-10 mins

Step 3: Tie a piece of string onto your stirring stick

Step 4: Place it into your mixture and 

Step 5: Wait for maybe a week

Findings

Describe your crystals in the table below.

Extra Findings while mixing...

I found that when mixing it takes a little while to make the mixture but also when you leave it for a few seconds, and you scrape your stick along the bottom and bring your stick up it still has borax on it but then dissolves again.

Crystal Type	Shape (Describe the shape)	Size (of individual crystals)	Hardness (Crumbly to Rock Hard)
Borax	Round squared ball	Big and Small	Hard
Sugar	Square	Medium	Smooth
Salt	Cube

What crystals worked out best and why?: 

Conclusion: 

Type	Explanation
Salt	Salt is formed by evaporation by salty water, like sea water. Enclosed bays are where you could find sea salt. In region places.
Sugar	Most green plants produce sugars, they create a form of sugar. If a plant makes more food than it requires, it stores it. The sugar is made from many green plants.
Snowflakes	A snowflake creates an ice crystal. Water Vapour freezes normal crystals, building new ones - A snowflake also has 6 arms, sometimes

Type

Number of sides

Picture

2 EXAMPLES

Monoclinic	3

	Cube, Octahedron
Isometric	0		Cube, octahedron
Hexagonal	7		Dipyramid, Prism, rhombohedron
Tetragonal	0		Zircon, rutile
Orthorhombic	2		Sulfur, topaz
Triclinic			Albite, rhodonite