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'''Presentation on Saltcrystals by Liese Endler''' | |||
In WS2014/15 I started working with Magnesium sulfate and Aluminum potassium sulfate. | |||
To get a saturated solution that will start growing crystals I used following receipts: | |||
Magnesium sulfate solution: | |||
mix salt and water in relation 1 to 3 | |||
e.g. 50g magnesium sulfate + 150g distilled water (warm) | |||
Aluminum potassium sulfate solution: | |||
mix salt and water in relation 1 to 2 | |||
50g aluminum potassium sulfate + 100g distilled water (warm) | |||
My general observations on salt crystals so far: | |||
- once one small crystals started growing a lot more will follow (concept of the seed crystal) | |||
- when being exposed to music or other kinds of sonar waves / vibrations the crystals growth respond with different patterns | |||
- Magnesium sulfate-crystals are more easy to grow in a warm surrounding e.g. near the heater but not directly on it, sometimes it take a long time until the growing starts depending on the location of the jar the solution is in and the saturation | |||
- dusk, dirt or small particles of metal( e.g. from the metal spoon that one can use to mix the solution ) can interfere with the growing process | |||
- if you want to grow a big crystal its important to separate the one that you like the most from the others and put it into a fresh prepared solution that is cold | |||
Exercise for the class: | |||
take a drop of magnesium sulfate-solution (MgSO4+H20) onto a microscope slide (Objektträger) | |||
try to work as clean as possible and take care the the drop is not full of dirt or dust | |||
wait a bit and than start to observe the drop through a microscope | |||
if you are really lucky and a bit patient you can see the crystal growth. | |||
slowly, the salt molecules form straight lines and form solid patterns that remind of an icy surface: | |||
results: | |||