Crystals

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

Definition of a 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)

Borax Crystals: 

Materials:

1. Pipe cleaners

2. Hot water

3. Pegs

4. Spoon 

5. Container/Cup

6. 8 tsp Borax

Process: 

Step 1. Put 8 tsp amount of borax to your container/cup. 

Step 2. Pour hot water to the container don't fully fill it.

Step 3. Grab your spoon and stir. 

Step 4. When the borax has mixed with the hot water, take the spoon out and get your pipe cleaners and pegs.

Step 5. Make a star using your pipe cleaner.

Step 6. Clip the peg onto one of the legs of the pipe cleaner, hang the peg downwards so the pipe cleaner is hanging.

Sugar Crystals:

Materials:

1. Container/Cup

2. 8 tsp Sugar

3. Spoon

4. Pegs

5. Hot water 

6. Pipe cleaners

Process:

Step 1. Just like the borax crystals put 8 tsp amount of sugar to your container/cup.

Step 2. Pour hot water to the container don't fully fill it.

Step 3. Grab your spoon and stir.

Step 4. When the sugar has mixed with the hot water, take the spoon out and get your pipe cleaners and pegs.

Step 5. This time just clip the peg to the pipe cleaner.

Step 6. Hang the peg downwards so the pipe cleaner is hanging.

Salt Crystals: 

Materials:

1. 8 tsp Salt

2. Pipe Cleaners

3. Container/Cup

4. Hot water

5. Spoon

6. Pegs

Process: 

Step 1. Just like the borax and sugar crystals. Put 8 tsp amount of salt to your container/cup.

Step 2. Pour hot water to the container don't fully fill it.

Step 3. Grab your spoon and stir.

Step 4. When the sugar has mixed with the hot water, take the spoon out and get your pipe cleaners and pegs.

Step 5. Just like last time just clip the peg to the pipe cleaner.

Step 6. Hang the peg downwards so the pipe cleaner is hanging.

Findings:

Crystal Type	Shape (Describe the shape)	Size (of individual crystals)	Hardness (Crumbly to Rock Hard)
Borax	Cubic	1 to 2mm in diameter	Hard
Sugar	None but mostly cubic	No crystals	No crystals
Salt	None but mostly cubic	0.5 - 1mm in diameter	Crumbly

What crystals worked out best and why?:

The borax had the most crystals and the salt had a little bit but it was crumbly. The sugar didn't have any crystals. The borax saturated more that's why it had the most crystals in it. If the sugar was more syrup like it would have made crystals. Although our one wasn't syrup like that's why it didn't work. 

Borax Crystal:

Salt Crystal: