Growing Crystals printable pdf download

Name: __________________________ Date: ________________ Period: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Crystals are the building blocks of rocks. They form when minerals solidify into regular shapes

with flat, often shiny faces and sharp edges. In rare conditions, exceptionally beautiful and hard-

wearing crystals form in igneous or metamorphic rock to become gemstones. The element carbon

can crystallize into a diamond, the most precious jewel of all, and the mineral corundum and beryl

can form rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. Gemstones are highly prized for their beauty and rarity.

You are unlikely to find any when rock hunting, so why not try making a fake!? Combine your

Chemistry knowledge and Earth’s Structure knowledge as we grow a “diamond” in the classroom.

Objectives:

To investigate what is a solution and how temperature and particle size affects solubility

Materials:

Are Diamonds Forever?

Hot water

Crystal seed

Diamonds are famous for the way they

Aluminum Potassium Sulfate (Alum)

sparkle. A cut diamond reflects more

light than other gems and splits the

Glass Beaker

light into colors, giving the diamond its

String

“fire”. They are also famous for being

Petri Dish

the hardest substance known-no other

Stirring Rod

mineral can scratch them. But they’re

Safety goggles

far from indestructible. Like coal and

Gloves

other forms of carbon, they can burn.

Tweezers

Pencil

Teacher Demo and Student Set-Up Day 1

1. Pour 60mL of hot water (55-60 degrees Celsius) into a beaker and add 20 grams of alum. Stir

the solution with a stirring rod until no more alum will dissolve.

2. The teacher will add a small layer of the solution to three Petri dishes. The teacher will leave

the dish in a warm place and cover it. Alum crystals will form quickly on the bottom of the dish as

the liquid cools. Allow time to sit overnight.

Day 1 Questions

1. Did your teacher make a solution, solvent, saturated or super saturated solution today? How

do you know?

Teacher Set-Up Day 2

1. Pour 180 mL of hot water (55-60 degrees Celsius) into a beaker and add 60 grams of alum.

Stir the solution with a stirring rod until no more alum will dissolve.

Growing Crystals