How to Grow a Crystal
Growing crystals doesn't require cutting-edge laboratory tools and technology. Instead, a keen home crystal grower can create distinctive crystal formations using a few household items. One of the exciting things about growing crystals is that, even if you follow a formula, results are likely to differ every time. One option for growing large, well-formed crystals is to create a smaller seed crystal from alum. From that small crystal, much larger versions will grow.
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Things You'll Need
- 4 ounces alum
- 2 beakers
- Thermometer
- Pencil
- Thread
- Paper
- Stove
- Pan
- 1 cup water
- Cooking oil
Instructions
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1
Pick up some alum from the spice and flavoring section of a local supermarket or grocery store. You'll need at least 4 ounces.
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2
Heat a small pan filled with a cup of water to about 122 degrees, an optimum temperature for alum solubility, according to Princeton University. Check temperature with a thermometer. Pour the water into a clean beaker or tumbler.
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3
Stir 2 ounces of alum into the water until dissolved. Place a sheet of paper or coffee filter over the top of the beaker. Find a clean, dust-free indoor location for your crystal growing. Avoid areas with heavy vibrations, such as laundry rooms. Leave for a few hours or overnight.
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4
Tie a length of thread to the center of a pencil. Choose a pencil that fits across the top of the beaker, and a length of thread that reaches the bottom of the container, with a little extra for tying.
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5
Take the cover off the beaker and gently decant the solution into another clean jar or beaker. Pick out any crystals that form at the bottom of the container. Tie the largest crystal to the thread attached to the pencil.
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6
Smear a little cooking oil on the thread above the crystal to stop the crystal growing along the thread. Heat up the remaining alum solution from the previous beaker to around 122 degrees. Allow it to cool. Suspend the crystal in the solution by balancing the pencil on the beaker rim. The crystal should be submerged in the solution.
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7
Cover the top with paper and leave the crystal for a week. Check back to see if the smaller seed crystal develops into a larger form.
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Tips & Warnings
If smaller crystals develop on the bottom under the suspended crystal, remove the larger crystal. Warm the solution again, allow to cool, then replace the suspended crystal.
References
- Photo Credit Ice Crystal image by Somebody Photo from Fotolia.com
Comments
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some one I met in jail told me I could grow in a with aluminum shaving ammonia Thomsons water seal and the same thing with the nylon strings an inch off off the solution and was told if its30 to 45 days it will yeild if its very well sealed with a five pound pressure release twelve to fifteen pounds of myth, minus1 to2 ponds because he said that you MUST cut off an inch or two from the bottoms of the strings, give or take what ever is blue is poison but that's only supposed to be one to two inches at most which saves a whole lot considering their are roughly 370 strings.And each one has approximately 30 inches of usable myth. and each string went to the size of a shoe lace to having crystals that make the shoe lace at minimum the size of a man thumb in diameter. I have everything on here but one ingredient on here, I will give you this ingredient if you give me your input on what I have put on her so far.
