HELP!! I have a science project question

[terryg11]

I'm trying to duplicate a science project many of us probably did in jr. high and early high school science classes. It dealt with the formation of crystals.

As I remember it, you put a water and sugar solution in a glass container and then let a string dangle in the middle (not touching any sides) of the solution and after time you should have a crystal forming/growing on the string.

I can't remember all the specifics and thought I would ask here bofore using the net, figured someone here might remember this and would have the time to fill me in on what I can't remember.


on edit, maybe it was in elementary school we did this. how can I not remember when it was done?

[TreasonousBastard]

1. That's how you make rock candy

Should be directions in some cookbooks somewhere.

The trick is boiling the water when adding the sugar.

You are creating a "supersaturated' solution of sugarwater, where the hot water holds more sugar than cold water. As the water cools, the excess sugar precipitates out, and if it has something to hang on to, like a string, it will form crystals.

IIRC, it doesn't always work, and there's some other trick to it, but experiment with various amounts of sugar in the water.

[Enraged_Ape]

2. Here's the link

Sounds good...

http://allsands.com/Kids/Education/scienceexperime_agw_gn.htm

The trick is NOT to tap, shake or otherwise disturb the glass after you have the supersaturated solution in it. You have to treat it like nitroglycerine, or all the sugar will precipitate, and not on the string.

[cally]

3. I failed at this so many times

I used to do "science experiments" with my kids all the time. I've since heard that it helps if you roll the string in sugar before putting it into the solution. Good luck.

[HEyHEY]

4. Burn it ALLLL!!!!!

hehehehehe ooooooooo hehhehehehe :grr: