Crystal hearts make pretty science

Here's a science experiment that your sweetheart will love!

Ingredients

• Red pipe cleaners
• Thread
• Water
• Borax
• Ruler
• A container

Instructions

STEP 1: Twist a red pipe cleaner into the shape of a heart.

STEP 2: Using the thread, tie your pipe cleaner heart to the ruler. Place the ruler on the top of the container to check that the heart floats freely inside the container.

STEP 3: Remove the ruler with the heart attached and add several cups of boiling water into the container. Add about 1/4 cup of borax for every 2 cups of boiling water. Stir the mixture until most of the borax is dissolved.

STEP 4: Place the ruler back on the top of the container allowing the heart to float in the borax solution. Leave the heart in the borax solution overnight.

Explanation

Borax is a crystal. When water is heated, the molecules move farther apart. This makes a lot of room for borax crystals to form. As the water evaporates, the crystals deposit on the pipe cleaner creating a crystal heart.

Jason Lindsey is a Science Outreach Educator for the Bootheel Youth Museum. Check out his science blog "Hooked On Science" at jasonthescienceguysblog.blogspot.com for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science. Send him your science questions at jlindsey@bootheelyouthmuseum.org. More science experiments can be found at www.semissourian.com.