How to Use Borax With Crafts

Borax forms crystals like this one.

An easy way for children to learn about chemistry is to encourage them to grow crystals, symmetrically shaped solids with flat sides. Crystals of soluble minerals like borax can be made to precipitate on strings and other thin objects. The science behind this is the simple fact that hot water can hold more borax in solution than cold water because the water molecules in a hot solution are farther apart than in a cool solution. As the water cools, its molecules move closer together and literally squeeze the borax out of the solution. The borax then precipates out of the solution.

Things You'll Need

• Colored pipe cleaners
• Several wide-mouth jars or beakers
• String
• Boiling water
• Borax
• Pencils

Instructions

1. Bend pipe cleaners into several shapes, including stars, letters and hearts. Each shape must be about 1 inch narrower than the width of an available jar or beaker. Bend one shape for each jar or beaker you intend to use.

2. Tie pieces of string to each of the shapes you have created.

3. Pour boiling water into each of the jars or beakers one cup at a time. Note the number of cups of water you used.

4. Add 3 tbsp. of borax powder to each jar or beaker for each cup of water in that jar or beaker. Stir all jars or beakers until the powder dissolves.

5. Suspend a pipe cleaner shape in each of these solutions by tying the loose end of each string to a pencil and placing the pencil across the mouth of the jar or beaker. Wait 12 to 24 hours until the shapes and strings are covered with clear borax crystals through which the colored pipe cleaners shine.

6. Hang the shapes in bright locations as decorations.

References

• Borax Crystals