[Rockhounds] More fun with NaCO3 crystals...

[jbacko]

Kreigh Tomaszewski wrote:
> You may get better results if you make your saturated solution in one 
> container, with some excess, and pour most of the saturated solution 
> into a second container, before adding your seed crystal.
>
> Kreigh
>
Yes, but watch out! It is very easy to spill some micro crystals into 
the stock and ruin the effect.

I have found it is usually better to make a nearly saturated solution 
that is clearly fully dissolved, and let natural evaporation take care 
of the rest. It takes a lot longer but the results are usually better. 
It is nice to have a seed crystal in most cases, but having one that has 
grown in the first batch that is clean and single is better as a source 
than the original powder, especially if the quality is N.F. or less.

But the best thing is to try everything and see what works. Most 
materials are cheap and easily worked with, and fun. The kids like it 
all except that they are a bit impatient for results. Growing things in 
water glass is the best introduction for them.

And don't forget making sugar crystals on a string. They are actually 
very interesting  as they occur in both right and left hand versions 
(as, dextrose and levulose). Pasteur discovered that while working with 
grape sugars. I suppose one can get dextrose at a pharmacy. Levulose is 
in fructose. A challenge is to grow large sugar crystals from maple  
syrup or molasses, and determine which kind they are.

Try researching right and left-handed crystals in common substances. You 
can start with quartz.


john