Crazy Crystals

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

Crystal video

Definition of 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

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Process

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

Step 6:

Sugar Crystals

Sugar crystals video

Ratio: 1 cup sugar to 1/2 cup water

Materials

1)

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Process

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

Step 6:

Salt Crystals

Salt crystals time lapse video

Ratio: 4 Tablespoons salt to 1/2 cup water

Materials

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Process

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

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	cube shaped, square,	small, white.	crumbly.
Sugar	cube shaped, rectangle.	small, white.	crumbly.
Salt	cube, square.	small, white.	crumbly.

What crystals worked out best and why?:






Conclusion:






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After watching the videos as a class, explain how the following crystals are formed:

Type	Explanation
Salt	Sea salt is produced through evaporation of ocean water or water from saltwater lakes, usually with little processing. Depending on the water source, this leaves behind certain trace minerals and elements. The minerals add flavor and color to sea salt, which also comes in a variety of coarseness levels.
Sugar	Refined sugar is made from raw sugar that has undergone a refining process to remove the molasses. Raw sugar is sucrose which is extracted from sugarcane or sugar beet. ... The sugar syrup is concentrated by boiling and then cooled and seeded with sugar crystals, causing the sugar to crystallize out.
Snowflakes	snowflake begins to form when an extremely cold water droplet freezes onto a pollen or dust particle in the sky. This creates an ice crystal. As the ice crystal falls to the ground, water vapor freezes onto the primary crystal, building new crystals – the six arms of the snowflake.

CRYSTAL TYPES

AIM: TO LOOK AT THE 7 DIFFERENT TYPES OF CRYSTALS

Salt Crystals

Sugar Crystals

Borax Crystals

7 different crystal shapes

The 7 types of crystals

Type	Number of sides	Picture	2 EXAMPLES
Monoclinic
Hexagonal
Trigonal
Hexagonal
Cubic