How to Make Borax Snow

Borax snow flakes can be created in a fashion very similar to rock candy. When water is boiled and mixed with borax, the water molecules are spaced apart and the borax is mixed in. When pipe cleaners are placed in the solution and it cools, the water molecules squeeze back together, pushing the borax out. The borax then attaches to the only thing left, the pipe cleaner, and crystals are formed, creating a faux snow effect.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pipe cleaners
• Wide mouthed jar
• String
• Pencil
• Pan
• Borax
• Food coloring (optional)

1. Attach three pipe cleaners to each other by twisting them around each other at the center. Bend and shape the pipe cleaners until the desired snowflake shape is formed. Ensure the snowflake fits in the jar before proceeding.

2. Tie one piece of string around one of the pipe cleaners of the snowflake. Tie the other piece of string around a pencil. The string should be just long enough to suspend the snowflake in the jar when the pencil is resting on the rim. The snowflake should not touch the bottom or sides of the jar.

3. Boil one cup of water, then stir in three tablespoons of borax, one at a time. Continue to stir until the borax has dissolved completely. Food coloring can be added at this point to change the hue of the snowflake, if desired.

4. Pour the hot borax solution into the jar. Set the pencil over the rim of the jar, allowing the snowflake to sit suspended in the solution.

5. Wait 24 hours and then remove the snowflake from the solution. Borax crystals will cover the pipe cleaners, creating a sparkly snow effect.

Tips & Warnings

• Try using different food coloring each time to make a myriad of colorful snowflakes. Borax can be found in the laundry aisle of your local supermarket or drug store.
• Borax snowflakes are toxic and should not be consumed.