How to Make Different Colored Crystals

Crystals appear in many different forms in nature, including diamonds, salt and even snowflakes. The structure of the molecular bonds in crystals determines their shape and how they are formed. While crystals are primarily found in nature, they can be created at home or school. Crystals are generally clear or white in appearance, but different colored crystals can be formed by adding food coloring during the growing cycle. Adults should supervise children when experimenting with the formation of crystals, as chemicals are used during the process.

Things You'll Need

• Salt
• Liquid bluing
• Water
• Ammonia
• Clay flowerpots, rocks or charcoal
• Shallow dish
• Food coloring
• Petroleum jelly

Instructions

1. Mix four tablespoons of salt with four tablespoons of liquid bluing. Liquid bluing can be found in the laundry department of most grocery or generic supply stores. One popular brand name is Mrs. Stewart's.

2. Add four tablespoons of water and four tablespoons of ammonia. Mix well.

3. Place small pieces of broken clay flowerpots, porous rocks or charcoal in a shallow dish.

4. Place a few drops of food coloring on the pieces of material in the dish. Try various colors to create different colored crystals.

5. Coat the interior of the dish with a thin layer of petroleum jelly to prevent crystals from forming on the sides.

6. Pour the liquid mixture evenly over the pieces in the dish. Make sure that the pieces are at least half submerged in the liquid.

7. Sprinkle two tablespoons of salt over the charcoal, rock or clay pieces. Repeat the next day. This will help speed the formation of the crystals.

8. Add more of the bluing ammonia mixture on the third day on the bottom of the shallow dish. Be careful not to drip any of the mixture on the already forming crystals, as this may retard growth or damage their appearance.

9. Keep the dish in a warm dry place but out of direct sunlight. Crystals should form in three to six days.

References

• Word IQ: Crystal -- Definition
• Wayne's This and That: How to Grow Crystals
• Chemistry.com: Making Crystal Gardens