Chemistry Activities for Kids: Week 4 - Growing Crystals

Chemistry Activities for Kids Week 4 - Growing Crystals From Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., your Guide to Chemistry Some of the neatest chemistry projects involve crystals. Here are some crystals that you can grow and some resources where you can learn more about crystal structures. Let's Grow Crystals Crystal Spikes in the Sun  This is my near-instant gratification project. Many crystals can take days, week, or even months to grow. These crystals appear in a matter of hours. Charcoal Crystal Garden This is a classic crystal project in which you grow a colorful crystal garden on pieces of brick, sponge, or charcoal. An oldie, but goodie! Big Alum Crystals Alum is an ingredient usually found in the spice section of the grocery store. One of its uses is to make pickles crunchy. However, it also makes nice big crystals. Borax Snowflake You can make crystals cover any roughened surface. In this project, borax crystals and pipecleaners combine to make sparkly snowflakes. Make Rock Candy Rock candy is another name for sugar crystals that you can eat. These crystals are easy to grow, almost too pretty to eat, plus the only ingredients you need are sugar and water. More Crystal Resources Science Fair Project Ideas  Growing crystals is a fun way to explore your interest in chemistry and geology. There are lots of types of crystals that can be grown from common household substances, such as sugar (sucrose), salt (sodium chloride), epsom salts, borax, and alum. Here are some ideas of ways to grow crystals as projects. Types of Crystals Let's take a look at the two main ways to categorize crystal types. I've described the major crystal structures (e.g., triclinic, hexagonal) and how crystals are classified by their properties (e.g., ionic, covalent) and provided links so that you can see examples of crystal types and learn more about crystallography. Growing Crystals This is my index of crystal-growing resources, with the tutorials and other crystal information. Got Questions? Visit the Chemistry Forum  If you are age 13 or older you can ask and answer questions at the chemistry forum. Forum members include anyone interested in chemistry. You'll find scientists, engineers, students, parents, and other people just like you with an interest in chemistry. Looking for More Projects? Fun Activities for Kids  Here's a list of some of the most popular science projects for bored kids. These activities are safe and use common household materials. Best Science Toys Sometimes you might prefer to purchase an educational toy rather than start a project from scratch. Are you looking for ideas for good toys? Here's the list I made for myself to jog my own memory before my kids' birthdays and other holidays. Home Chemistry Kit Here's a list of projects that you can do at home. I've included a list of common supplies you might want to have in order to start up a home chemistry lab. For each project, I've listed the materials and stated an appropriate age range. This email is written by:  Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.