Here we try to grow needle-shaped crystals of epsom salt.
Things Required:
Saucer
1 sheet of dark construction paper
Epsom salt
1 small baby food jar with a lid
Tablespoon
Scissors
Directions:
Fill the jar one-half full with water. Add 2 tablespoonfuls of epsom salt to the water. Secure the lid. Shake the jar vigorously for 60 times; then allow it to stand. Cut a circle from the construction paper to fit the inside of the saucer. Pour a thin layer of the salt solution over the paper. Try not to pour out the undissolved salt. Place the saucer in a warm place and wait several days.
This Is What Happens:
Long, slender, needle-shaped crystals form on the paper.
Science Behind It:
Epsom salt crystals are long and slender. The particles in the box have been crushed for packaging and do not have a slender shape. As the water evaporates from the solution, small, unseen crystals start to stack together. Further evaporation increases the building process and long, needle-shaped crystals are produced.
