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.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Food Coloring
• Glass Jars
• Oven Mitts
• Saucepans
• Stirring Spoons
• Pencils
• Paper And Binder Clips
• Cotton String
• 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.