Hooked on Science: Creating a crystal Christmas tree

Using a few items from around the house you can create a crystal Christmas tree.

Materials

* Water

* Uniodized salt

* Mrs. Stewart's Bluing

* Ammonia

* Saucer

* Sponge

Instructions

STEP 1: Create a crystal solution by mixing the six tablespoons of salt, six tablespoons of water, six tablespoons of Mrs. Stewart's Bluing and six tablespoons of ammonia.

STEP 2: Cut the sponge into the shape of a Christmas tree.

STEP 3: Place the Christmas tree sponge into the center of the saucer.

STEP 4: Pour the crystal solution over the Christmas tree sponge.

Explanation

Mrs. Stewart's Bluing is a suspension of small particles of blue powder. As the liquid evaporates, crystals form around the blue powder. The ammonia is added to speed up the evaporation process.

Jason Lindsey is a Science Outreach Educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website Hooked On Science at hooked onscience.org for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science. Send him your science questions at jlindsey@hookedonscience.org. More science experiments can be found at www.semissourian.com.