How to Grow Sugar Crystals

The process of making sugar crystals is very similar to making salt crystals, but sugar crystals can be more fun because they're tasty treats. Try this recipe for your son or daughter's next science project, it's guaranteed to earn a good grade.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Food Coloring
• Glass Jars
• Oven Mitts
• Saucepans
• Stirring Spoons
• Oven Mitts
• Pencils
• Paper And Binder Clips
• Pencils
• Cotton String
• Pencils
• Glass jars
• Saucepans
• Oven mitts
• 3 c. sugars

1. Boil about 1 c. water.

2. Pour the water into a glass jar.

3. Slowly stir in three cups of sugar, about a teaspoon at a time. Don't rush this step.

4. Continue until the sugar is no longer dissolving but is starting to collect at the bottom of the jar.

5. Choose a color for your crystals and add a couple drops of food coloring.

6. Tie one end of a piece of string around the middle of a pencil and tie a paper clip to the other end.

7. Place the pencil over the jar so that the string hangs down and the paper clip almost touches the bottom of the jar.

8. Allow jar to sit someplace where it will be undisturbed.

9. Check after about 24 hours, and you'll see colorful crystals forming on the paper clip.

Tips & Warnings

• Place a paper towel over the top of the jar to keep dust from getting into the crystals.
• You can use something else instead of a paper clip as the "seed," or area where crystals start growing, such as a fishing weight.
• If the string hanging from the pencil is too long when you place it in the solution, just roll the pencil between your hands until the string wraps around it and the length of string hanging down becomes shorter.
• Use a glass jar that can withstand the heat of the boiled water or wait until the boiled water cools down. Use caution around the hot water.

[seanethan]

on 1/26/2010 So how much sugar are we suppose to add? I tried this and it failed, all of the sugar was at the bottom of the jar and the paperclip was submerged in it, and I assume that is not the way it is suppose to be?? I need help!

[thestenchofodor]

on 1/5/2010 About how long does it take to grow a sugar crystal and can u tell me can u put it as decoration ,please reply me thnx

[lyzbyth]

on 7/15/2009 WARNING A fact unknown to some - is that many fishing weights are made from LEAD which is toxic. An alternative idea would be to have your sugar crystal grow around a sugar cube which you knot or thread unto your string and suspend into the solution as printed so well in the recipe above. Or I have seen some that use just several large knots. Whether you intend your crystals for consumption or not don't use toxic materials ... if a child hears that it is made of sugar ... you can usually bet that an attempt to consume it may follow. :>)

[taramackie]

on 4/17/2009 Actually I am pretty sure this is just for experimental purposes only. Not for eating. It's a good project for kids who are discovering how to grow crystals.

[ilikechoco4445]

on 3/28/2009 everyone: don't use anything toxic if you're eating it. Canada, a tip for decor is to food color it, maybe join all of the crystals together to make a big shape and put it in a center of a candy dish.or you can make tiny pebbles and put em in there instead. If you want, get a square/rectangle/whatever your candy dish's shape is wrapping (the stuff you stuff into bags for people's baby shower or birthday) in the color of the food coloring (don't get exact same tint, try darker or lighter or different shade of that color, it looks a little better)and put them on top of that. or make a big one and use it as a paperweight. if you're doing the candy dish idea, you can put it as a centerpiece in tables, or even put it in your bathroom! If you have enough crystals, even make a kid's sign on their room's door made of their name in bubble letters on something thick like cardboard in the color of