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Visitors observe a tray holding a crystal-covered brick. The crystals were created by evaporation of a solution containing liquid bluing, ammonia, and salt. The bluing contains particles of iron hexacyanoferrate (KFe2(CN)6) which provide starting points, or “seed” crystals, for salt crystals to form. The salt crystals grew out from the brick over several days. The crystals grew in the same shapes, each crystal growing on top of other crystals, creating delicate patterns that look like trees.
- 1 to 7 days
- 5 to 10 minutes
- $1 - $5 per group of students
- Ages 6 - 14
- Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- 40 ml liquid bluing (“Mrs. Stewart’s” Liquid Bluing, available at grocery stores or from Luther Ford & Company, P.O. Box 201405, Bloomington, MN 55420)
- 40 ml NH3 (household ammonia)
- 8 tsp NaCl (sodium chloride, table salt)
- 80 ml H2O (water)
- One porous brick
- One shallow dish (the brick should easily fit inside it)
- One Plexiglas cover (it should extend at least 2 in. above the dish)
Subjects
-
Physical Sciences
-
Chemistry
- Solutions
- Structure and Properties of Matter
-
Chemistry
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- read
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- All rights reserved, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, 1997
Funding Source:
- National Science Foundation