13Dec
Crazy Crystal Decoration
• Describe what a Crystallographer does
• Do you know where the word crystal comes from? Crystal comes from the Greek word krystallos which means ice.
• What material is commonly mistaken for crystal? Glass is commonly mistaken for crystal because it has a similar composition of a quartz, but glass has no fixed geometrical arrangement of its atoms and molecules.
• Make your own crystals!
Materials
• Pipe cleaners (colored ones work best with clear crystals)
• String or twine
• Pencil/twig
• Borax (20 Mule Team Laundry Booster. Do NOT use Boraxo Soap.)
• Water
• Food coloring (optional)
• Jars large enough to submerge decoration in Borax solution
Engage
• In this activity you are a crystallographer! What is a crystallographer? A crystallographer is a scientist who studies the forms and structures of crystals.
• What is a physical reaction? A physical reaction is the change in appearance of a substance. Physical changes can be reversed unlike chemical changes.
• What are molecules and atoms? Molecules are the smallest particle of any substance. An atom is the smallest particle of an element. Each molecule is composed of one or more atoms. For example, Sodium atom + Chlorine atom= sodium chloride molecule (table salt)
Explore
1. Fashion your decoration out of pipe cleaners. Use your imagination!
2. Tie one end of your string to the top of your decoration and the other end to your pencil or twig. Or, if your shape allows, bend the tip of the pipe cleaner over your pencil or twig to hold it in place. Test the shape in the jar to make sure your decoration does not touch the bottom of the jar.
3. Mix together your crystal solution at a ratio of 3 tablespoons of Borax to 1 cup of boiling water. Stir until the Borax dissolves. Some of the powder may not dissolve and settle at the bottom which is ok. To give your crystal a slightly colorful cast, add a few drops of food coloring (darker colors work better).
4. Pour the crystal solution into a wide mouth jar. You will need enough of this solution to submerge your pipe cleaner decoration. You can divide it among several jars if you want to make more than one decoration.
5. Submerge your decoration in the crystal solution with the pencil/twig resting on the lip of the jar so that the decoration hangs freely.
6. Leave the decoration in place overnight.
In the morning you should have a beautiful holiday decoration covered in crystals! Keep your decorations away from small children and pets because Borax is not edible.
Explain
Crystals are believed to form in seven different shapes or “systems”. Each system has different characteristics that define it.
The six different shapes or systems:
1. Cubic
2. Hexagonal
3. Tetragonal
4. Orthorhombic
5. Monoclinic
6. Triclinic
Diamonds which are often used in jewelry are an example of the cubic system. The ruby, a red gemstone, is an example of the hexagonal system.
A single material can crystallize into different molecular patterns under different conditions. For example, carbon crystals can form a hard diamond or under other conditions take the form of graphite or pencil lead which is soft and black.
Did you know crystals have value beyond just being pretty? Particular crystals such as quartz have a property called piezoelectricity. This means that if the crystal is cut in the proper way, when it is squeezed it will create a tiny electrical charge on its edges. A practical use of piezoelectricity is in microphones where quartz crystals are mounted to detect the pressure waves from sound and turn them into electrical signals. Then, the electrical signals can be sent, recorded, or amplified and turned back into sound by a speaker.
The piezoelectrical effect can be reversed so that the electrical charge is applied to the crystal and can be made to vibrate at a constant speed. This causes the electricity to pulse at the same frequency resulting in a device called an oscillator. Oscillators are used in TV and radio transmitters and receivers.
• Pipe cleaners (colored ones work best with clear crystals)
• String or twine
• Pencil/twig
• Borax (20 Mule Team Laundry Booster. Do NOT use Boraxo Soap.)
• Water
• Food coloring (optional)
• Jars large enough to submerge decoration in Borax solution
Engage
• In this activity you are a crystallographer! What is a crystallographer? A crystallographer is a scientist who studies the forms and structures of crystals.
• What is a physical reaction? A physical reaction is the change in appearance of a substance. Physical changes can be reversed unlike chemical changes.
• What are molecules and atoms? Molecules are the smallest particle of any substance. An atom is the smallest particle of an element. Each molecule is composed of one or more atoms. For example, Sodium atom + Chlorine atom= sodium chloride molecule (table salt)
Explore
1. Fashion your decoration out of pipe cleaners. Use your imagination!
2. Tie one end of your string to the top of your decoration and the other end to your pencil or twig. Or, if your shape allows, bend the tip of the pipe cleaner over your pencil or twig to hold it in place. Test the shape in the jar to make sure your decoration does not touch the bottom of the jar.
3. Mix together your crystal solution at a ratio of 3 tablespoons of Borax to 1 cup of boiling water. Stir until the Borax dissolves. Some of the powder may not dissolve and settle at the bottom which is ok. To give your crystal a slightly colorful cast, add a few drops of food coloring (darker colors work better).
4. Pour the crystal solution into a wide mouth jar. You will need enough of this solution to submerge your pipe cleaner decoration. You can divide it among several jars if you want to make more than one decoration.
5. Submerge your decoration in the crystal solution with the pencil/twig resting on the lip of the jar so that the decoration hangs freely.
6. Leave the decoration in place overnight.
In the morning you should have a beautiful holiday decoration covered in crystals! Keep your decorations away from small children and pets because Borax is not edible.
Explain
Crystals are believed to form in seven different shapes or “systems”. Each system has different characteristics that define it.
The six different shapes or systems:
1. Cubic
2. Hexagonal
3. Tetragonal
4. Orthorhombic
5. Monoclinic
6. Triclinic
Diamonds which are often used in jewelry are an example of the cubic system. The ruby, a red gemstone, is an example of the hexagonal system.
A single material can crystallize into different molecular patterns under different conditions. For example, carbon crystals can form a hard diamond or under other conditions take the form of graphite or pencil lead which is soft and black.
Did you know crystals have value beyond just being pretty? Particular crystals such as quartz have a property called piezoelectricity. This means that if the crystal is cut in the proper way, when it is squeezed it will create a tiny electrical charge on its edges. A practical use of piezoelectricity is in microphones where quartz crystals are mounted to detect the pressure waves from sound and turn them into electrical signals. Then, the electrical signals can be sent, recorded, or amplified and turned back into sound by a speaker.
The piezoelectrical effect can be reversed so that the electrical charge is applied to the crystal and can be made to vibrate at a constant speed. This causes the electricity to pulse at the same frequency resulting in a device called an oscillator. Oscillators are used in TV and radio transmitters and receivers.
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