How to Make Rock Sugar
Making rock candy is an experiment that teaches kids about evaporation and crystal formation. Water evaporates from a mixture of sugar and water and produces sugar crystals on a string suspended into the solution. Rock formations are formed as the sugar crystals attach to each other. Mix a solution that contains a higher sugar concentration to make larger rock candy crystals. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Sugar
- Water
- Saucepan
- Glass jar
- Cotton string
- Paper clip
- Pencil
- Waxed paper
- Covered container
- Food coloring
- Mint extract
Instructions
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1
Heat one cup of water in a small pan until is boils. Keep the heat at medium high and dissolve two cups sugar by stirring continuously until the solution becomes a rolling boil and turns clear.
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2
Remove the pan for heat and carefully pour it into a clean glass jar. Cover the jar by placing a small piece of waxed paper over the opening.
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3
Tie a paper clip to the end of a piece of string that is 2/3 the height of the jar. Tie the other end of the string to the center of a pencil.
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4
Dip the paper clip end of the string into the solution and immediately remove it. Lay the paper clip on a piece of waxed paper and let dry for two days. This will create seed crystals on the paper clip and a starting point for additional crystal growth.
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5
Hang the paper clip in the solution after the drying period. Place the pencil on top of the jar rim to hold the string in place.
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6
Place the jar in a location at room temperature. Do not disturb the jar until the rock crystal has grown. It takes about seven days.
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7
Remove the crystals by pulling the string out of the solution when they are at the desired size. Remove the rock candy from the string for easy eating. Store the candy in a covered container.
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Tips & Warnings
Add food coloring to the sugar solution to make colored rock candy. Add mint extract for flavored candy crystals.
Do not make rock candy without adult supervision as the sugar water is extremely hot and can cause serious burns on the skin.
