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How to make a crystal from salt in physics. Salt crystals - growing large and multi-colored beautiful decorative crystals (110 photos)

Hello brain chemists! Growing crystals on objects to create fancy shapes or just for a science experiment is easy and fun! In this project I will grow crystals on objects that are printed on a 3D printer.

This process is quite simple for preparatory work no more than 1 hour of your time is required. It takes several days for the crystals themselves to grow.

Step 1: Required Components

For growing salt crystals you will need:

1. SALT!
Crystals can be grown from almost any salt, however, for best results I suggest using copper sulfate or magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt). You can also experiment with sodium chloride (table salt), sea salt, tin salt, etc. Wear nitrile gloves when using copper sulfate.
For of this project I chose Epsom salt.
2. Distilled water.
3. Transparent container 5 cm larger than the object on which the crystals will be grown.
Transparent food containers provide a visual representation of the crystal growing process, and also retain heat well and do not break.
4. An object on which crystals or string will be grown.
Feel free to experiment with the lattice design of your 3D object!
5. A device for holding your object in the solution: sticks, toothpicks, wires, string or stand, etc.
6. Bowler for cooking, large enough to boil required amount water for saline solution.
7. Spoon for stirring.

Step 2: Prepare the saline solution

Pour water into the pot.
Salt must be added to water in a ratio of 1 to 2.
Boil the water.
After boiling, leave the water on low heat.
Add salt gradually and stir until completely dissolved. Continue the procedure, adding and stirring the salt until it stops dissolving. At the bottom of the cauldron you will see crystals. Remove the pot from the heat.
Carefully pour the resulting solution into your container (if using a glass pitcher or container, place a spoon in it before pouring the saline solution to prevent damage to the container).
Place the container with the solution in a convenient location for growing salt crystals.

Step 3: Hanging an Object or String in the Saline Solution

Growing salt crystals:
Place a chopstick or spoon across the top of your container.
Tie a piece of string to the center of the stick, and immerse it in the solution to a distance of 3.8 cm or more from the bottom of the container.
Leave the container in place and watch the crystals grow.

Growing salt crystals on site:
Similar to the above method, hang or tie your object to a string so that it is immersed in the solution and there is a distance of 5 cm between the object and the container, which is necessary for the growth of salt crystals.

Alternatively, you can hang your object using sticks or wire.

Step 4: Waiting for the Crystals to Grow!

Do not touch the container; check crystal growth only visually.

Step 5: Carefully remove the crystals from the solution

Carefully remove the string or object from the solution once the crystals have grown to the desired shape and size. If the crystals are stuck between the container and your object, then take a butter knife and carefully separate the crystals from the edges of the container; Be careful not to damage the shape of the grown crystals.

Step 6: Want more crystals?

Before removing the string or object containing crystals from the solution, evaluate the size of the crystals and decide if you want to grow more crystals. For further crystal growth, it is necessary to repeat the entire process by preparing a new salt solution.

When growing additional crystals, it is very important to properly prepare a new batch of solution: after boiling and preparing the solution, LET IT COOL TO ROOM TEMPERATURE before lowering the string or object into it again.

If the solution is not cooled, then the already grown crystals will melt in the hot water and the whole process will have to start over.

Step 7: Examples

Here are photographs of crystals that I grew in more than 3 solutions. You can see the difference in the size and shape of the crystals.

Step 8: Enjoy your crystals!

After growing your crystals to the desired size, carefully remove the string/object. Dry on a towel. ENJOY YOUR RESULTS!

As you experiment further, you can try using tap water, colored water, and different types of salt, including iodized salt, non-iodized salt, sea salt, or even salt substitutes. See the difference in the crystals grown using a microscope for this purpose!

Crystals have long attracted people's attention. Despite their natural origin, such stones look very unusual, almost “unnaturally” beautiful. And the huge variety of shapes and colors has made crystals a very popular material, often used in handicrafts, decoration and even jewelry.

It is known that such stones are formed as a result of the solidification of mineral-rich liquids. Accordingly, you can grow a crystal right at home. The main thing is to figure out how to prepare a solution suitable for the formation of such a stone. Our guide will help you understand all the intricacies of the difficult but incredibly interesting process of growing crystals.

What you need to grow crystals at home

The growth of an artificial crystal depends on many conditions. If you want to create such a miracle of nature yourself, you will need to take many points into account. The composition of the crystallization solution (not to mention its concentration and saturation) and the conditions will also be important. environment(humidity and air temperature), and even the properties of the surface on which the stone will grow.

That is why, before you start making a special liquid, you should make sure that you have everything you need for the future experiment:

a container made of any non-oxidizing material (its size can be arbitrary; make your choice based on how large the crystal you plan to grow);
regular table salt;
a stick for stirring the solution (it is better if it is wooden or glass);
napkins or special filter paper (necessarily white).

How to quickly grow a crystal from table salt and water

To grow a crystal from ordinary salt at home, you will have to be patient: this project can take you from 3 weeks to six months (the period will directly depend on how large the stone you want to get in the end). In a month, such a stone will hardly reach the size of a bean. In three, it will increase to a maximum of 4 cm (meaning in diameter).

First of all, prepare a special solution for growing crystals:

1. Take some clean distilled water and keep it at room temperature.

2. Dissolve regular table salt in the resulting liquid. It is better to take more seasonings. Continue adding salt until the solution no longer becomes difficult to stir.

3. Place the container with the prepared liquid in a water bath. Heat the mixture until the salt in it is completely dissolved.

4. Cool the resulting homogeneous mass, and then strain with gauze or a napkin. This step is necessary to remove all solid impurities from the solution.

Once the liquid is ready, you can proceed directly to growing the salt crystal:

1. To start, you will need a base. Ideal if you already have a small crystal of salt ready. In the absence of one, you can use any solid object as a base (preferably made of plastic, since this material will not oxidize in the prepared solution).

2. Take an ordinary thread (necessarily white). Tie one end of it to the selected base, and the other to a pencil, ruler or any other object that can act as a “crossbar”, lying across the neck of the container with the solution. Please note that the length of the thread itself must be such that the crystal suspended with its help is completely immersed in the liquid, but does not reach the bottom of the vessel.

3. Cover the finished structure with a cloth and put it in a place where strong temperature changes are not possible (in other words, away from windows and sources of drafts).

4. Now all you have to do is wait for the crystal to grow. You can check its condition from time to time by carefully lifting the structure by the thread on which it is suspended. However, avoid touching the crystal with your hands or touching the walls of the container with it at this time! A fragile stone will not tolerate such treatment.

5. As soon as the crystal reaches the size you need, remove it from the solution, gently wipe with a dry cloth and coat with colorless varnish. This way the stone will become a little stronger, and you can pick it up without fear of breaking it.

You can do an unusual experiment on growing crystals from salt with your children. This process is completely safe, since only salt and water are used and no additional reagents are required. Making such a craft with your own hands is quite simple, but you need to take into account several rules.

How to grow a crystal from salt - preparing tools and material

Before you start making crafts, prepare necessary tools and determine a location for the container. The maturation process of the product will take some time, and the dishes cannot be moved or tilted.

The main component for the formation of a crystal is salt. To obtain a smooth and transparent surface on your craft, use sea salt. It does not have impurities and small debris, like table salt.
Crystal formation will occur in water. It must also be well cleaned of impurities. It is best to pour distilled water or boil the liquid and filter.
The dishes for the experiment should not be metal. Since it can oxidize due to the action of the saline solution. The volume of the growing container does not matter and is limited only by the size of the desired crystal.
Keep the container free of debris and debris. They will prevent salt from growing on the main crystal. Therefore, before the experiment, the dishes should be thoroughly washed and dried.
As a base, you can use thread, fluffy wire, dried twigs or a large piece of salt.
Additionally, you will need: a wooden spoon for stirring, a piece of gauze or bandage, paper towels, clear nail polish, a saucepan and a pencil.

How to grow a salt crystal with many facets

The initial stage of the experiment involves boiling the liquid. So help children warm up the liquid so they don't get burned.

Prepare 120 ml. purified or distilled water. Pour it into a saucepan, place it on the stove and bring to a boil.

Decide on the type of salt to form the crystal. So, with the help of ordinary table salt, the craft is formed within a few days, sea salt forms a crystal in 1-2 days, and with iodized salt you will have to wait a very long time for the product to grow.

Prepare a saturated salt solution. You can tell if it’s ready by the grains that couldn’t dissolve in the water. To do this, add salt to warm water and stir the solution thoroughly. First add half a glass of salt. If the water is clear without grains, then add another quarter glass.

Pour the solution into a dry and clean container. Make sure that the sediment remains in the pan, otherwise it will fall to the bottom of the jar and reduce the growth of the main crystal.

At this stage, you can add dye to change the color of the crystal. But do not add too much of it, as in large quantities the product will make the craft brittle.

Prepare the thread for the warp. It is desirable that it be thick with a rough surface. Tie it to a pencil or long skewer. Their size should be larger than the diameter of the container for growing the crystal and with edges for stability.

Measure the required length of thread and cut it. Do not let it touch the bottom of the container.

Place the pencil on top of the container. Make sure that the thread does not stick to the walls of the jar.

Place the container with the saline solution on a flat surface. If you want to grow a crystal with large branches, then keep the liquid with the thread in a warm place. To form a crystal with smooth surfaces, place the container in the cold.

Now all you have to do is watch the crystal grow.

How to grow one big crystal from salt

To obtain a large crystal with smooth edges after the experiment, it is necessary to use a slightly different technology.

Prepare a concentrated salt solution as in the previous paragraph. Pour it into a container. But for this method When growing crafts, choose a flat and wide container. So the large crystal will not be able to connect with the rest, smaller parts.

Leave the container with the solution for 2 days for small crystals to form. Then pour out the water and select the most suitable piece to grow.

Tie a small crystal onto the fishing line. In this case, it is necessary to use a smooth thread or thin wire (fishing line) so that salt grains cannot attach to it.

Prepare the saturated salt solution again. But this time, do not bring the water to a boil, but just warm it to room temperature.

Place the crystal on a fishing line into the prepared container and pour in the saline solution in a thin stream. Secure the fishing line to the surface of the container with a pencil. In this case, the crystal should be located in the center of the container.

Growing a crystal this way will take much longer than the previous option. Therefore, prepare a new salt solution every two weeks and be sure to filter it before pouring it into the container.
When the crystals grow to the desired size, remove them from the liquid, dry them and be sure to cover them with a thick layer of colorless nail polish. It will prevent the water from evaporating, which will make the craft more durable for a long period.

Conducting an experiment on growing a crystal from salt at home is very simple and safe. But to obtain the desired effect, strictly follow the rules specified in the article and do not forget about finishing the product.

Growing a real crystal is quite simple, interesting and educational. This article talks about how to do this at home.

Crystals are formed from any substance whose atoms and molecules are grouped into an ordered structure. To grow them, you don’t need a laboratory or special equipment. The simplest reagents that are always at hand will do.

Growing a crystal is one of the easiest and safest chemistry experiments available at home. Even a child of primary school age can carry it out under adult supervision.

The reward for your efforts will be an object of extraordinary beauty that you create with your own hands.

Types of crystals

A monocrystal is a single large crystal, for example, fake diamond. It is formed under the condition that crystallization processes occur extremely slowly.
A polycrystal is formed when crystallization occurs quickly. In this case, many tiny crystals are formed. This is how metals behave.

Ways to grow crystals at home

One of the simplest ways to grow a crystal is to cool a saturated solution. What processes occur in this case?

In warm water, the substance chosen for the experiment (for example, salt) dissolves completely.
The temperature of the solution is lowered: this reduces the solubility of the salt. Undissolved salt is formed and precipitates.
The formation of a precipitate begins with the formation of small grains both in the solution itself and on the surface of the container in which it is placed.
If there are no foreign inclusions in the solution (ordinary specks of dust, fluff, etc.), and cooling occurs gradually, these grains-crystals grow together into larger and more regular crystals.
Rapid cooling causes the formation of many tiny crystals of irregular shape at once, which do not connect with each other and inhibit each other’s growth.

The crystal will also grow if the solvent (water) is gradually removed from the saturated solution. How to do this and what will happen in the vessel?

Dishes with a saturated solution must be kept for a long time at a constant temperature.
It is necessary to exclude the entry of litter and dust, and also slow down the evaporation of water (to do this, just cover the container with paper).
You can grow a crystal on some kind of suspension in the middle of the container (then it will take on the correct shape), or on the bottom of the container.
If the crystal grows on the bottom, it must be rotated periodically to achieve symmetry.
In place of the evaporated water, add a solution of the same consistency as at the beginning of the experiment.

The basic principle in this case remains the same: the slower the processes affecting crystallization, the more beautiful, larger and more regular the crystals will be. If the original crystal which acted as the basis for growth was of an irregular shape, it will complete the missing parts as it grows and assume a configuration typical of the nature of its substance. So copper sulfate will eventually grow into a rhombus, and chromium-potassium alum salts will form an octahedron.

It is believed that only a small crystal can grow at home from improvised means. This is not so: with due attention, there is every chance of growing a crystal of any size and weight at home. In fact, to do this, it is enough to continue the crystallization procedure until the desired result is achieved. Of course, you must immediately select a container that is suitable in size.

Safety of crystals

Failure to comply with storage conditions may lead to destruction of the crystal. It is necessary to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the selected substance in advance in order to avoid disappointment at the end of such long and painstaking work.

Thus, the chiseled edges of an alum crystal under the influence of ordinary dry air will fade due to loss of moisture and crumble, forming a gray powder. The same will happen with sodium sulfate and thiosulfate, manganese, zinc, nickel salts, and Rochelle salt. The only way out is to place the crystals in sealed transparent vessels. Some recommend covering the crystals with a clear varnish, but this only delays the death. Also, varnished edges lose their original shine and look artificial.

High temperatures destroy crystals grown from copper sulfate and potassium alum. The lifespan of such crystals can be extended by storage in a household refrigerator. However, even here they will last about 2 years.

Another problem with crystals of water-soluble substances is that they are destroyed by changes temperature regime due to moisture, which remains in small quantities inside them. For this reason, spots appear, chips appear, edges fade, and loss of shine occurs.

Perhaps the most stable substance popular for growing crystals is table salt.

What can a crystal be grown from?

In addition to the above substances, crystals can be grown at home from sugar.

It is much more difficult, but at the same time more interesting, to grow artificial stones (amethysts, quartzites, rubies, etc.). This is a rather labor-intensive process that requires special equipment to maintain constant temperature, pressure, humidity and other indicators important for the success of the experiment. In other words, to obtain an artificial stone, you will need a real laboratory.

What should be the substance for home grown crystal?

Safe, non-toxic. Not all substances with a crystalline structure meet this requirement. For example, potassium cyanide KCN (or sodium sulfide Na2S) also forms crystals of its characteristic shape. But it is impossible to conduct experiments with it at home, because it enters into an oxidation reaction with oxygen in the air and releases toxic substances that are dangerous to humans.
Second important quality– stability. That is, the selected substance must enter into a reversible reaction with water. In addition, resistance to temperature fluctuations is important. Some organic substances can be irreversibly destroyed when exposed to hot water (hydrolysis reaction).
Cost of reagents. As you know, the first experiment (or several) may not be very successful, so to begin with it is better to opt for inexpensive and accessible substances.
Yes, growing crystals will require a lot of purified water - this should also be taken care of in advance.
Ability to dissolve in water. Before starting the experiment, you should find out what consumption of the selected substance is required for a given volume of water. To grow a sugar crystal, for example, you will need to dissolve at least 2 kg of sugar in 1 liter of water. So it is better to first draw up a graph of the solubility of the starting substance. To do this, you need to subtract the mass of the same volume of filtered solution from the mass of a glass of water after the dissolution is completed and the temperature has stabilized. This will help you get an idea of how much crystallization substance is needed for a given volume of water.

How to grow a table salt crystal

The easiest way to practice is with regular table salt. Then you won’t need special chemicals, just salt and purified water.

Step 1. Prepare a crystal of salt by tying it with a thin thread secured in the middle of a small stick (pencil, pen).

Salt crystal

Goal: place the crystal so that it is immersed in the solution, but not in contact with the surface of the vessel.

We tie the salt crystal to a thread and place it in a glass

Step 2. Pour warm water into a container (transparent so you can observe the growth of the crystal) and add salt. Stir until the salt dissolves completely. Then add salt and repeat. It is necessary to salt the water until the salt stops dissolving. This is noticeable by the appearance of sediment at the bottom of the vessel.

Step 3. The solution must be gradually heated by placing it in a larger diameter container with hot water. Eventually the precipitate will dissolve. If there is something left at the bottom, it is better to pour the solution into a clean container.

Step 4. Place the container with the resulting solution in a place with a stable temperature. Immerse the crystal-nucleus on a string into the solution. The top of the vessel with the solution must be covered with paper.

We immerse the embryo crystal on a thread in the solution

Step 5. The crystallization process has begun. Next, when the water evaporates, it will be necessary to add to the container a solution with the same salt content as it was at the beginning of the experiment. After some time, it will become noticeable that the original crystal has increased in size. You can grow it as much as you like, as long as you have enough container size and patience. The resulting crystal will be quite durable.

How to grow a sugar crystal

Sugar crystals can be used as table decorations or candy for children. But they are quite expensive due to the high sugar consumption. For 2 glasses of water you will need a total of 5 glasses of granulated sugar.

Sugar crystals

The process of preparing the solution is similar to how it is done for salt crystals. The easiest way to grow sugar crystals is on toothpicks or wooden skewers. To “prime”, just dip a skewer in syrup and dip it in sugar so that it sticks evenly to the surface. You need to wait time for the sugar to stick well and dry.

To form colored crystals, you should add food coloring to the syrup (the best option is juice).

It will take 1 week to grow a sugar crystal from the specified amount of ingredients.

Sugar crystals on sticks (Video)

This video explains how to grow edible crystals from sugar that are not only beautiful to look at, but also very tasty.

How to grow a crystal of copper sulfate

Salt crystals turn out transparent white, and copper sulfate gives a rich blue tint.

Copper sulfate crystal

Growing such a crystal is no more difficult than a salt crystal: you will need a saturated solution and a crystal embryo on a string.

Crystal of copper sulfate suspended on a thread

We lower the seed into a saturated solution of copper sulfate on a thread.

The solution in a transparent container must be placed in a shaded place with a stable temperature, hang the crystal as in the case of salt, and wait, periodically adding the solution to replace the evaporated one.

Day 42 of the experiment

You cannot remove the crystal from the working solution until the procedure for its formation is completed!

Safety precautions

Food containers should not be used to grow crystals (with the exception of experiments with salt and sugar). You should not leave food nearby: firstly, because the reagents are toxic, and secondly, because of debris and crumbs, which, if they get into the solution, will ruin the experiment.

When manipulating chemical reagents, you must follow absolutely all the rules indicated on the packaging. Upon completion of work, you should wash your hands.

Growing a crystal at home is quite simple, interesting and educational. First, it is better to practice on available substances. If something goes wrong, you need to check that all the conditions necessary for the formation of a crystal are met. Having mastered the simplest crystals, you can begin to work with other reagents. It never gets boring because different substances produce crystals of different shapes and colors. In addition, no two crystals are exactly alike, and their configuration and size can be adjusted at will.

Growing crystals at home is a very long, labor-intensive and painstaking process, but it is very exciting and definitely worth the time spent. Children really enjoy this experience, and most of the methods below are completely safe. So, let's look at the main ways to grow crystals at home.

How to grow a crystal from sugar at home

It is best to start your experiments in growing crystals at home with the most interesting and enjoyable ones. The easiest way to grow a crystal is from sugar, and if you do this experiment with children, they will be able to taste the fruits of their creativity at the end of the process.

In order to grow a crystal from sugar we will need:

2 glasses of water;
5 glasses of granulated sugar;
wooden skewers;
paper;
small saucepan;
several transparent glasses.

The crystal making process begins with making sugar syrup. To do this, take 1/4 cup of water and two tablespoons of sugar. Mix and heat until syrup is obtained. Dip a wooden skewer into the syrup and sprinkle with a little sugar. The more evenly the skewer is sprinkled, the more perfect and beautiful the crystal will be. In a similar way, we make the required number of blanks and leave them until completely dry, for example, overnight.

Some time has passed, our skewers have dried and now we can move on to the next part of the experiment. Pour 2 cups of water into a saucepan and add 2.5 cups of sugar. Over low heat, stirring constantly, turn our mixture into sugar syrup. Stirring must be carried out thoroughly until the sugar is completely dissolved! Add the remaining 2.5 cups of sugar and also cook the syrup until completely dissolved. After this, leave the syrup to cool slightly, this will take approximately 15-20 minutes. During this time, we continue preparing blanks from skewers, the basis for our future crystal. We cut paper mugs slightly larger than the diameter of our glasses and pierce the resulting mugs with chopsticks. The main thing is that the paper is tightly fixed on the skewer. The paper will serve as a holder and lid for the glass.

Pour the cooled but still hot syrup into glasses. At this stage, you can add a little food coloring to the syrup, then the crystal will eventually turn out colored. We lower our preparation (a stick with a circle of paper) into the glass and leave it alone until the crystal ripens. It is important not to touch the walls and bottom! Well, we do the same with all the remaining blanks.

It will take approximately a week to grow the crystal. This is a very interesting and exciting process that children really like. Every day the crystal grows larger and takes on its own individual shape. Some crystals grow faster, some slower, but the bulk matures in just 7 days. The resulting crystal from sugar is very good to use with the whole family at a home tea party, or just nibble on it in moments of blues! That's it, entertaining chemistry is not only interesting, but also delicious;).

How to grow a crystal from salt at home

Growing a crystal from salt at home is a fairly simple process, but it requires patience and care. However, the result of the experiment exceeds all expectations. We will need:

pure water;
pot;
2 glass jars;
salt;
strong thread.

We heat the water in a saucepan, heat it very strongly, and do not bring it to a boil; the experiment will not work in boiling water. After heating the water, gradually begin to pour salt into it, stirring constantly until the portion of salt is completely dissolved. After this, add more salt and stir until dissolved. And so on until the salt stops dissolving. Pour the resulting saturated saline solution into a jar and let it sit thoroughly for 24 hours. The next day we will see many small crystals of settled salt in the jar. We choose the most beautiful and largest of them, carefully take them out and tie them on a thread. Carefully pour the solution into an empty jar, making sure that the settled crystals do not fall into the new vessel. Then we lower the crystal on a string into a filtered saline solution and be patient. After 2-3 days you will notice an increase in the crystal, this growth will continue for some time until the end of growth. After you notice that the crystal has stopped growing, you can either end the experiment if you are satisfied with the result, or prepare another saturated saline solution, just as we did above, and lower our crystal there. By the way, if you frequently change the salt solution, the crystal will grow faster.

It is very important not to deliberately cool the solution or shake it, as this will result in imperfectly shaped crystals. Also, you should not add any dyes, the crystal will not be colored, and the experiment will be ruined.

How to grow a crystal from copper sulfate at home

Growing crystals from copper sulfate at home is the next level of complexity, which requires compliance with safety requirements and can only be done by children under adult supervision.

To conduct the experiment we will need:

water, preferably distilled;
glass jar;
copper salt (copper sulfate or copper sulfate, which can be purchased at a gardening store).

Before purchasing, be sure to examine the substance; it should be a bright blue, homogeneous powder. If there are lumps and green inclusions, it is better to refuse the purchase. It will be useful for summer residents on the farm, but not for us, novice chemists.

So, the correct vitriol has been purchased. Pour about 100 grams of powder into a glass jar and add a little hot water, stirring constantly. We must obtain a saturated solution in which the copper salt can no longer dissolve. Filter the solution and put it in the refrigerator. The next day we will find many crystals at the bottom. We select a couple of the largest and most beautiful ones and place them in a container with a filtered solution. Before this, we treat the crystals in the same way as in the previous experiment with table salt, namely, we fasten them on a thread and lower them into a jar. Cover the vessel with thin paper and be patient. Growing a crystal from copper sulfate takes several weeks. After the formation of the crystal is completed, it must be carefully removed, rinsed with cold running water and covered with colorless nail polish.

natural rock crystals

How to grow a crystal from salt
How to grow a crystal from sugar
How to grow a crystal of copper sulfate
How to grow a crystal from potassium alum

Mineral crystals are found everywhere in nature. For their education we need special conditions. For example, rock granite comprises crystals of quartz, feldspar and mica, which crystallized one after another as the magma cooled.

Beautiful hexagonal rock crystal crystals grew from hot aqueous solutions saturated with silica SiO2.

natural sulfur crystals

Rhombic yellow crystals sulfur grew from the hydrogen sulfide waters of hot springs and geysers.

On the shores of salt lakes and seas you can see cubic crystals of rock salt - halite; white, red, yellow and even blue crystals of carnallite and mirabilite.

Diamonds, the hardest crystals, were formed under enormous pressure in the so-called explosion pipes (kimberlite pipes).

So, nature has created and continues to create mineral crystals. Can we see the mystery of crystal growth? Can we grow them ourselves? Yes of course we can. And now I will tell you how to do this at home.

HOW TO GROW A CRYSTAL FROM SALT

Grown salt crystals

In order to grow crystals of table (rock) salt (halite - NaCl), you need to place a container of water on the stove and bring the water to a boil. Then remove the container from the stove and dissolve regular salt from the pack in it. Constantly stirring the solution, add salt until you notice that it no longer dissolves.

The resulting salty solution must be filtered and poured into a flat container, for example, a saucer. The water will cool and begin to evaporate, and on the edges of the saucer and on its bottom you will see transparent cubes of regular shape - these are crystals of rock salt, halite.

You can grow a large crystal, or several large cubic crystals. To do this, place a woolen thread in the container in which you dissolved the salt. As the solution cools, it will become covered with salt cubes. The slower the solution cools, the more regular the crystals will have. After some time, growth will stop.

To grow one large crystal, you need to select one, the most correct one, from the many crystals formed at the bottom, place it on the bottom of a clean glass, and pour the solution from the previous container on top.

For the right crystals to grow, they need peace. Do not shake or move the table or shelf on which the container with growing crystals stands.

HOW TO GROW A CRYSTAL FROM SUGAR

You can grow sugar crystals in the same way as salt crystals. Sugar crystals can also be grown on wooden sticks; this can be a beautiful addition to any holiday sweet dish. Food coloring added to the solution will color the sugar in all the colors of the rainbow.

Sugar crystals

Below are complete instructions, how to grow sugar crystals on sticks.

HOW TO GROW A CRYSTAL FROM COPPER Sulfate

Copper sulfate is sold in gardening stores; from it and slaked lime, “Bordeaux liquid” is prepared to protect plants from fungi and various diseases.

In order to grow a crystal of copper sulfate (Cu SO4 * 5H2O) of the correct shape, powdered copper sulfate should be dissolved in water at a temperature of 80 degrees Celsius. At higher temperatures, the solubility of copper sulfate decreases. Dissolve the powder until dissolution stops. At the end of a wire or woolen thread we tie a seed - a small crystal of the same copper sulfate. Where can I get it? You can look for a larger crystal in the same bag from which you poured the vitriol into the water. If you don’t find one, leave your solution to cool, and after a while you will see small crystals at the bottom.

Choose one and tie (or glue) it to a wire or thread. Filter the solution. Then dip the prepared seed (crystal on a thread) into it. Never put the seed into a hot solution! The seed may simply dissolve. A large crystal of copper sulfate grows for several weeks. A crystal grown to the required size must be varnished, since the moisture contained in the air will eventually lead to its melting and destruction.

You can grow it in an easy way beautiful copper crystals. A detailed description of the process can be found in the detailed article “How to grow copper crystals.”

Iron sulfate crystals are grown in a similar way; a detailed article about this can be read by following the link in this sentence.

HOW TO GROW A CRYSTAL FROM ALUMINUM POTASSIUM Alum

grown crystals of potassium alum

Potassium alum (KAI 2*12H2O - mineral alunite) are sold in pharmacies in powder form. This is a good product that “dries the skin” and kills pathogens, this substance does not cause allergies and it is not toxic. Good crystals can be grown from potassium alum powder. Alum should be dissolved in warm water until saturated and the solution filtered. After a few days of being in a quiet place, at room temperature, small crystals will appear at the bottom of the container.

potassium alum (burnt alum) can be bought at the pharmacy

From these crystals you need to select several pieces of the correct shape and place them in another container. Then they are filled with the same solution. You can hang the seeds on thin threads (they can be glued to the thread with strong waterproof glue). Once every two or three days, the crystals need to be transferred to a new glass, the solution should be filtered and the growing crystals should be poured into it again. Alum crystals grown to the required size should be varnished so that they do not melt from air moisture and lose their shape.

It is advisable to prepare solutions for growing crystals using distilled water.

At home you can get artificial malachite, using copper sulfate and washing soda, but these will not be beautiful crystals or an openwork patterned stone, but a green or dirty green sediment at the bottom of the vessel (powder). Beautiful malachite, practically indistinguishable from natural, can only be obtained using industrial equipment.

Enterprises also grow crystals of many minerals. But this cannot be repeated at home; for this you need special equipment. Most crystals (quartz, amethyst, ruby, emerald, diamonds, malachite, garnets, etc.) are grown in cast iron autoclaves under high pressure. Temperatures reach 500-1000 degrees, and pressure – 3000 atmospheres.

Crystal Growing Kits

crystal growing kit

Now in toy stores in large cities, kits for growing crystals have appeared for sale. From powders ammonium and potassium dihydrogen phosphate, to which dyes are added, interesting prismatic and needle-shaped crystals can be grown. In order for the crystals to turn out large enough and beautiful, you must strictly follow the attached instructions.

Strange, but the instructions that are in the box shown in the photo do not indicate which one Chemical substance used for growing crystals and what dye is used. Otherwise it is quite detailed.

There are many interesting processes happening in nature. One of them is the creation of rock crystals. But this wonderful process, shrouded in mystery, can be reproduced at home, observing how beautiful minerals gradually grow from familiar substances.

The safest ingredient is sugar. It’s worth starting with, especially since such crystals are not only beautiful, but also edible. You need to take:

2 glasses of water;
3 cups more sugar;
sticks;
paper or clothespins;
capacity;
glasses;
food coloring.

Make syrup from 1/4 cup water and 2 tablespoons sugar. Then the sticks are dipped into it and rolled in a small amount of sugar sprinkled on a napkin. When they are completely dry, take a container, pour 2 glasses of water into it and add half the amount of sugar. Reduce the heat to low, place the container on the stove, and while stirring, wait for all the sugar to dissolve. Add the rest of the sand and dissolve it. Turn off the burner and let the solution stand for about 20 minutes. Pour the hot syrup into glasses and add food coloring to each. We put holders on the sticks. When we dip these sticks into the hot syrup, the limiter will prevent contact with the walls and bottom of the dish. After about 7 days, a miracle will happen.

Another 1 available ingredient is NaCl - table salt. Let's get started:

Pour 200 ml of warm water into a glass.
Add salt in portions, stirring all the time. We do this until the salt crystals stop dissolving. It will take approximately 70 g. It is important that the salt is pure, otherwise the experiment may end in a negative result.
Take a container of water and put it on fire. We place the glass there and let it sit there until the solution in it is heated. Don't forget to put a cloth or some kind of stand on the bottom of the container, otherwise the glass will crack.
We prepare a simple device consisting of a pencil with a thread tied to it, at the end of which the largest crystal of salt is attached. If instead of a crystal you tie a pebble or a figurine made of copper wire, then in the end you will get a very beautiful sample.
Take out the glass and pass the solution through filter paper. We place the device on the edges of the glass. The thread with the crystal will fall into the saturated solution. Set aside a dark place for dishes.
We observe how the crystal grows. When you decide that it has grown enough, remove it, dry it, and coat it with varnish. Handle it carefully - it is very fragile.

Very beautiful blue crystals grow from copper sulfate. This material is not as safe as sugar or salt, so wear gloves. The technology is almost the same:

Take a glass jar and pour water - 300 ml.
We gradually introduce copper sulfate until the solution is supersaturated.
Place a pan of water on the stove, place a jar in it and heat it.
We hang a bead or button on a thread. We tie it to a wooden stick.
Remove the jar and let the solution cool.
Place a stick with thread across the hole in the jar. We make sure that the load does not touch the bottom and walls of the vessel.
We wait for the crystal to grow, then take it out.
Apply the coating using colorless nail polish.

Good crystals grow from potassium alum (alunite). Buy them at the pharmacy. Then:

dissolve in heated water;
filter;
put in a quiet place, temperature - room;
crystals appear after a few days at the bottom of the dish;
choose the best ones, transfer them to another container and fill them with old filtered solution;
repeat this operation after 2-3 days until the required size of minerals is obtained;
take out, blot with a napkin and varnish.

In stores that sell toys, kits with materials for growing crystals sometimes appear. They contain aluminum and potassium sulfates, as well as ammonium phosphate and dyes.

Let's summarize this: growing crystals is a creative, exciting process. If you do this with a child, then who knows, maybe he will grow up to be a famous explorer?

Ordinary table salt can be turned into an interesting art object, the creation process of which will be exciting for children and adults. Not to be missed unique opportunity without leaving home, observe one of the natural phenomena - the formation of crystals.

Necessary equipment and materials

We carefully prepare everything you need to grow a crystal from salt. Everyone in their home always has everything they need for this job. It has been noticed that a larger crystal grows in a larger container, but in this case you will need a lot of salt:

We use coarse and clean table salt. Impurities in it are not allowed, as they will interfere with the formation of crystals of the correct shape. You can use sea salt, despite its complex chemical composition.
It is better to use filtered or distilled water.
2 containers: made of glass to observe the process and for heating water on the fire.
Stick (pencil, ruler, etc.).
Thread or thin copper wire.
Funnel.
Filter paper (gauze, cotton wool) is used to filter the solution.
Napkins.

Preparation for cultivation

The higher the temperature, the more the substance dissolves in water. A seed is added to the resulting supersaturated solution, and upon cooling, the molecules stick to it. Growth begins, depending on how much of the substance dissolved at high temperature and how much “precipitated” when it decreased, for example: 2 g of sodium chlorine compared to 50 g of copper sulfate.

Unlike other substances, the solubility of table salt is very high; when cooled, the adhesion of the substance is minimal, but over time, more and more molecules are added and salt objects increase in size.

The instructions on how to make crystals from salt are quite simple and not difficult. Bring the water to 80-90 oC, remove from the stove. Gradually add salt (38 g per 100 g of water), stirring constantly, until it no longer dissolves.

The result is a supersaturated solution, the salt from which will easily crystallize when it is cooled. Lowering the temperature slowly gives better results.

Place filter paper in the funnel and pour the contents into a glass container after 30-60 minutes. As a result, we remove all small crystals that may interfere with the main process and get rid of impurities.

We make a notch on the stick for a more stable fixation. We tie one end of the thread (wire) to the notch. At the other end we tie a knot or hang any small object on which molecules will be built up.

We lower the thread into the middle of the container. From wire you can make complex shapes that will become overgrown with crystals. In the photo of salt crystals you can see the variety various forms, depending on the matrix seed.

Crystallization process

Cover the top of the jar with a napkin: no foreign impurities should get into the water solution. We place it in a permanent place without temperature changes and try not to move or shake it. Maintaining the same level in the liquid, periodically carefully add saturated sodium chlorine solution.

Visible shifts are soon observed and after a month a small polycrystal can be seen. The longer it is in solution, the larger it becomes.

At the air-water interface, crystallization occurs more intensely. Variations in the movement of such a seed make it possible to obtain salt “products” quite quickly.

How to make a single crystal from salt? Is it possible to? Experts say that a crystal close to the natural rectangular shape can be obtained quite simply.

In a package of table salt, select a large crystal and place it on the bottom of the prepared saline solution. Sea salt, being a coarser salt, is even more suitable for these purposes. To speed up the process, it is transferred to a new saturated solution after a few days. Monitor the shape and periodically scrape off excess adhesion, trying to maintain the shape.

You can see a single crystal much faster: individual tiny crystals appear at the boundary of air and water in the jar. Transparent, regular in shape, they are clearly visible under a magnifying glass.

Coloring and storage

The resulting crystals are dried and coated with colorless varnish for better preservation. They are painted with different colored varnishes.

They will look aesthetically pleasing on a special podium, while at the same time being protected from destruction. No dyes are added to the saline solution, as they can only interfere with crystal formation.

The question is often asked: “Is it possible to get a crystal from salt in 1 day?” We hope that the above has already been answered. However, experiment, try, but remember how much time nature spends to grow its miracle!