Crystal growing

Name	Crystal growing
Description	Experimenting with crystal growing
Status	Running
Contact	metalgamer
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Copper Sulfate

Picture 1.1:The first crystals, that we are growing are copper sulfate crystals. They give an intense blue color and are quite easy to grow. For this, we need to acquire Copper(II)-sulfate pentahydrate. The chemical formula is:

Be aware that Copper(II)-sulfate pentahydrate is an irritant and when swallowed it is even toxic. Handle with care and take the necesscary precautions!

Gather your materials:

Copper(II)-sulfate pentahydrate

Water

Beaker

Glass dish

Spoon

Skewer

String

Funnel

Cotton pad

Tape

Plastic Wrap

Picture 1.2:Begin with boiling about 800ml of water. When it is boiling, transfer it to the beaker and start adding Copper(II)-sulfate pentahydrate until nothing will dissolve anymore. It should have a deep blue color, see picture 1.2.

Pour a little of the solution onto the glass dish, this will be used to grow some seed crystals. See picture 1.3.

Picture 1.3:Now, we have to wait, until we have seed crystals:

Picture 1.4:Picture 1.5:After about 3 hours, we can pick out one of the seed crystals and fix them to a piece of string (picture 1.5). Use a skewer to fix the height of the crystal.

Picture 1.6:Picture 1.7:This seed crystal can now be hung into the solution, attach the skewer with tape and let it sit overnight. Cover the beaker with plastic wrap to protect the solution from dust.

Picture 1.8:Picture 1.9:The next day, take out your polycrystals and filter the solution. Use a cotton pad in your funnel.

Picture 1.10:Picture 1.11:Clear out the bottom of the beaker, as a lot of crystals have grown on it.

Picture 1.12:After the solution has been filtered, pour it back into the beaker and hang your polycrystal back into it.

Picture 1.13:After one week, filter the solution again and clean the beaker.

Picture 1.14:Picture 1.15: