Grow
Crystals
Needed:
- Water
- Epsom salts
- A piece of glass
Experiment:
Dissolve some of the Epsoms salts in the water. Pour a
few drops of the liquid on a piece of glass and let it evaporate
in a warm place to produce beautiful crystals. Examine them
under a magnifying glass or a microscope.
Explanation:
Exactly why the molecules arrange themselves in definite patterns
to form crystals is not known. The shape of the crystal depends
upon what substances are used and what conditions exist.
Try other salts such as table salt or photographer's hypo.
Snowflakes are examples of crystals. Note that no two crystals
are alike. Some unusual crystal forms may be seen if an egg
is broken and its white and yellow allowed to evaporate on
a dish. Crystal formation requires time and room. The slower
crystals grow, the more perfect they grow.
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