Growing crystal spikes is fast and easy. All you need are a few basic supplies that you probably already have. It makes a great project for a warm, dry spring or summer afternoon.
The humidity should not be too high, since this relies on the principle of evaporation. Black paper is used to make the crystals easier to see once they have formed, but make sure to let the crystals dry before you move them.
Time required: Depending on how hot and dry it is, anywhere from half an hour to four hours or more.
School links: Chemistry and earth sciences.
What you’ll need:
-Warm water;
-1/4 cup Epsom salts or regular table salt (see below);
-A jar or container to hold the water and mix it in;
-Pie pan or cookie sheet with edges;
-Black construction paper;
-(optional) Food coloring.
Note: You can use either regular salt or Epsom salts, but the crystals that form from Epsom salts tend to be larger and more impressive. Try both and see which you like more!
1. Line the bottom of the pie pan or cookie sheet with black construction paper. You can experiment with different containers and materials, but metal conducts heat easily, which will help with the evaporation process.
2. Fill the container with warm water, and begin stirring in your chosen salt. Stir in as much as you can, until the salt no longer dissolves and just floats around the bottom. This means the water is saturated and can’t hold any more salt, which is what you want.
Optional: If you’re using food coloring, stir in a few drops at this point.
3. Carefully pour the water into the pan to soak the black construction paper with water. Make sure there is a thin layer of water over the paper as well.
4. Set the pan in a warm, sunny location with as low humidity and as high a temperature as possible to speed up the evaporation process.
5. Keep checking back on the pan, and you should see crystals begin to form. By the time the paper is dry, there should be beautiful spikes and shards of crystal, either clear if you did not use coloring, or with whichever hue of food coloring you added, to admire.
You could start a collection of crystals along a windowsill or somewhere else where they catch the light – and visitors’ attention! What a fun and easy conversation starter, and if your efforts produce particularly large and beautiful spikes, they make cool little gifts, too.
