Growing Crystals Science Project | Science Fair Experiment

Growing crystals is a fantastic science project because it produces tangible, beautiful results while demonstrating key concepts of chemistry like solubility, supersaturation, and molecular structure.

Here is a guide to running a successful crystal-growing experiment, ranging from beginner to advanced levels.

1. Choose Your Crystal Material

The “solute” (the solid you dissolve) determines how fast the crystals grow and what they look like.

2. The Core Experiment: Growing Borax Crystals

This is the most popular method because it is reliable and fast.

Materials Needed:

• Borax powder (found in the laundry aisle).

• Boiling water.

• Wide-mouth glass jar (heat safe).

• String or pipe cleaners.

• Pencil or craft stick.

• Food coloring (optional).

Procedure:

1. Prepare the Shape: Twist a pipe cleaner into a shape (a star, a circle, or a letter). Tie a piece of string to the top of the shape and tie the other end to the pencil.

2. Boil Water: Boil enough water to fill your jar about 3/4 full. (Adult supervision required).

3. Supersaturate the Solution: Pour the water into the jar. Add Borax one tablespoon at a time, stirring until it completely dissolves.

   • The Ratio: Usually 3 tablespoons of Borax per 1 cup of water.

   • Critical Step: Keep adding Borax until you see a tiny bit of powder settling at the bottom that won’t dissolve. This means the solution is saturated.

4. Add Color: Stir in food coloring if desired.

5. Submerge: Lower your pipe cleaner into the hot liquid. Rest the pencil across the mouth of the jar.

   • Note: Make sure the pipe cleaner is not touching the bottom or sides of the jar.

6. Wait: Place the jar in a safe spot where it won’t be bumped. Let it sit undisturbed for 12–24 hours.

7. Harvest: Lift the crystal out, let it dry on a paper towel.

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3. Turning it into a Science Fair Project

Simply growing a crystal is a demonstration. To make it a science experiment, you need to change a variable to test a hypothesis.

Idea A: Cooling Rate vs. Crystal Size

• Hypothesis: If the solution cools down slower, the crystals will be larger and clearer.

• Method: Prepare three identical jars of solution.

  1. Jar A (Control): Leave on the counter at room temperature.

  2. Jar B (Fast Cool): Place in the refrigerator.

  3. Jar C (Slow Cool): Wrap the jar in a thick towel or place it in a cooler box (insulated) to keep the heat in longer.

• Result to measure: Compare the size and clarity of the crystals after 24 hours.

Idea B: Impurities vs. Growth

• Hypothesis: Adding impurities (like vinegar or salt) will disrupt the crystal lattice and inhibit growth.

• Method: Make one standard jar and one jar with a tablespoon of vinegar added. Compare the results.

4. The Science Explanation (For your display board)

• Supersaturation: Hot water can hold more dissolved solid (solute) than cold water. By boiling the water, we forced it to hold extra Borax.

• Precipitation: As the water cools, its molecules move closer together and it loses the energy to hold that extra Borax. The Borax has to go somewhere, so it “falls out” (precipitates) of the solution.

• Nucleation: The Borax molecules look for a surface to cling to. The pipe cleaner or string acts as a nucleation site. Once a few molecules attach, they form a pattern (a crystal lattice), and other molecules lock into that specific pattern, causing the crystal to grow layer by layer.

Safety Notes

• Borax is not edible. Keep it away from pets and small children. Wash hands after handling.

• Hot Water: Always use caution and adult help when handling boiling water.