Crystals consist of atoms, molecules, or ions arranged in complex patterns with easily recognizable geometric structures. When you mix water with a crystalline base, such as alum, salt, or sugar, you can see crystals form within a few hours. Learn how to grow your own perfect crystal, make crystal decorations, and make colorful rock sugar crystals.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Growing Crystals With Alum
Step 1. Fill the jar halfway with warm water
Make sure the jar is clean as you don't want any other substance to interfere with your crystals. It's better to use a clear jar so you can see the crystallization process.
Step 2. Stir in the alum
Place a few tablespoons of alum in a jar and use a spoon to stir the mixture until the alum dissolves. Add more alum and keep stirring. Keep doing this until the alum can no longer dissolve in the water. Let the mixture sit for a few hours. As the water begins to evaporate, crystals will form at the bottom of the jar.
- Alum is a mineral used to pickle cucumbers and other vegetables, and can be found in the spice section of any grocery store.
- You will notice that the alum will no longer dissolve when the alum begins to collect at the bottom of the jar.
Step 3. Take the crystal source
Choose the largest and most beautiful crystal that has just formed to pick up. Then pour the liquid from the jar into a clean jar (try not to fill the clean jar with undissolved alum) and use tweezers to reach the bottom of the jar and pick up the crystals from the bottom.
- If the crystal is still too small, wait a few hours before removing the crystal source.
- If you prefer to keep growing the crystals in the first jar, let them sit for a week. The bottom and sides of the jar will be filled with crystals.
Step 4. Tie a thread around the crystal and dip it into the second jar
Use a thin nylon thread or silk thread. Tie it around the crystal, then tie the other end to a pencil. Place a pencil in the mouth of the second jar and dip the crystals into the solution.
Step 5. Wait a week for the crystals to grow
When the crystals have grown to the shape and size you like, remove them from the water. Remove the thread and enjoy the crystal you have made.
Method 2 of 3: Making Crystal Ornaments
Step 1. Make a solution of water and alum
Fill a jar halfway with water, then dissolve a few spoonfuls of alum in the water. Keep adding alum until it can no longer dissolve.
- You can also use salt or borax in addition to alum.
- If you want to make decorations in several colors, divide the solution into jars.
Step 2. Put the food coloring in the jar
Add a few drops of red, blue, yellow, green, or whatever color you want to the solution in the jar. If you are preparing several jars of the solution, add a few drops of a different color to each jar.
- Mix different drops of food coloring to create unique colors. For example, combine 4 drops of yellow with a drop of blue to make a pale green, or mix red and blue to make purple.
- For a festive holiday decoration, color the solution in a color that matches your holiday decor.
Step 3. Bend the pipe cleaner into a decorative shape
Shape it into a tree, star, snowflake, pumpkin, or any other shape you want. Make the shapes clear and easily recognizable, as pipe cleaners will be covered with crystals so the boundaries of different shapes should be clear.
Step 4. Hang the pipe cleaner at the end of the jar
Insert the molded pipe cleaner into the jar so that the shape is in the center of the jar, not touching the sides or bottom. Hang the other end of the pipe cleaner over the end of the jar, bent slightly so that it hangs.
- If you have a jar of solution that is colored in more than one color, choose a color that matches the shape of the pipe cleaner you are making. For example, if you're making a tree pipe cleaner, you'll need to dip it in a jar of green solution.
- If you dip more than one pipe cleaner in the same jar, don't let them touch each other.
Step 5. Wait for the crystals to form
Let the pipe cleaner sit in the jar for a week or two, until you like the size of the crystals. When you're happy with the shape, remove your new crystal ornament from the jar. Dry with paper towels. The decoration is ready to hang.
Method 3 of 3: Making Rock Sugar Crystals
Step 1. Make a solution of water and sugar
To make rock sugar, use sugar as your crystal base instead of alum or salt. Fill half the jar with warm water and add as much sugar as possible, stirring until dissolved.
- The most commonly used type of sugar is granulated sugar, but you can experiment with brown sugar, raw sugar, and other types of sugar.
- Don't use artificial sweeteners to replace sugar.
Step 2. Add color and flavor
Make your rock sugar more interesting by adding a few drops of food coloring and natural flavorings to the solution. Try different flavorings and color combinations, or create your own variations:
- Red food coloring with cinnamon flavour.
- Yellow food coloring with lemon flavour.
- Green food coloring with spearmint flavour.
- Blue food coloring with raspberry flavour.
Step 3. Dip wooden chopsticks in the solution
Place a few wooden chopsticks into the solution and rest their ends against the rim of the jar. If you don't have chopsticks, you can use skewers or ice cream sticks.
Step 4. Cover the jar with plastic wrap
Since you're using sugar, this solution may attract insects as the crystals form. Cover the jars with plastic wrap to prevent insects from getting inside.
Step 5. Wait for the crystals to form
After a week or two, the stick will be covered with beautiful crystals. Remove from the jar, dry, then enjoy and share with your friends.
