How to Crystalize Sodium Acetate

You can make sodium acetate crystals as a science experiment.

Sodium acetate is a salt of sodium hydroxide (lye) and acetic acid (vinegar). It can be purchased or made by combining vinegar and lye. Sodium acetate can easily form a supersaturated solution, where the concentration is higher than what would normally dissolve in water. When an instigator, or seed crystal, is introduced to a supersaturated solution, crystals begin being formed in the solution. This easy experiment can be preformed in a home kitchen or high school chemistry lab.

Things You'll Need

• Sodium acetate solution
• Pot/heat resistant container
• Stove/heat source
• Glass container
• Small crystal of sodium acetate/sand

Instructions

1. Heat the sodium acetate solution in the pot with the stove until it is boiling.

2. Continue boiling the solution until a solid starts coming out of solution, or slowly add more sodium acetate until no more will dissolve in the hot solution.

3. Pour the hot solution into the clean glass container.

4. Place a small sodium acetate crystal (purchased or from a previous experiement) or speck of sand in the solution. Either will crystalize the solution, but the sodium acetate crystal will often create a more uniform crystal.

5. Let the solution cool down slowly. Then leave the solution uncovered for three to four days. The natural evaporation of the water will increase the concentration of sodium acetate in the water and it will crystallize on the small crystal.

References

• Chaosscience.com: Sodium Acetate