Salt Crystal Garden

Alright this is an old one. I learned this in grade school, they probably don't do it anymore because it involves dangerous chemicals like water. But it's fun for the kiddies.

Step 1: You will need

Water
Laundry Bluing, getting hard to find, it's a suspension of Prussian Blue in water.
Salt (table)
Clear Household Ammonia
Bowl
Toilet Paper Roll Core

Comments

[alexwin]

I couldn't find Mrs. Stewarts Blueing, so I'm trying it with "RIT White Wash Bleach Alternative". Hopefully they're the same.

[acm321]

wait, bleach?
it's not actual bleach, right?
because if it is mixing it with ammonia will make mustard gas, which is poisonous and will kill you

[noname420]

I wonder what happened to alexwin. Hopefully it wasn't real bleach that he mixed with ammonia but that would explain why he never commented back on this.

[umax610p8]

poof

[elizabethteacher]

I tried this, but couldn't get it to work - I used "Bluette Laundry Bluing".  I couldn't find Mrs. Stewarts.  I used 2 T of each ingredient.  Can you tell me what I might do differently?

[Tool Using Animal]

I think it's the blueing. I looked at the MSDS and Bluette is Ultramarine blue, a sodium aluminum silicate compound, whereas Mrs Stewart's is Prussian Blue an iron compound.

[elizabethteacher]

Turns out, you're right. I called the Mrs. Stewart's company and they told us they had tried the very same experiment on their competitors blueing and it doesn't work.  In other words, it HAS TO BE Mrs. Stewarts because of the requisite ingredients it contains. They offered a "Salt Crystal Garden" kit for $9.00.  Can be purchased on their website - www.mrsstewarts.com. Thanks for your quick response. 

[CraftBear]

Is there any way of doing it without the blue stuff? xD I have no idea where to even start looking for it...

[aicerg1]

we did this at school but we added epsom salt and food coloring

[MinnieMelissa]

I remember doing this when I was in 1st grade! I had always wanted to do it again but could never remember. Thanks for posting! (:

[robot797]

were could i buy the stuff in holland?

[watchurmouthyoungman]

im not gonna lie...that looks absolutely gross

[hottie10]

i love it

[alexa]

WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE!?!?!?!

[merseyless]

lets play a game called "read the title"

[wolf555hound]

how do you play?

[zimmemic25]

by reading the title :-P

[wolf555hound]

dang! i lost.

[merseyless]

its ok

[thebear1]

good instructable i 65 years young can remember doing this as a kid we used a lump of hard coal, back them we burn coal for heat, give a 5 on this, lots old time fun things are being lost to kids, now thanks for posting

[canadian nh]

can I use powder ammonia since liquid one isn't available, and is it fragile? how long it lasts? thanks

[Tool Using Animal]

it is extremely fragile and collapses at the touch. I've never heard of powder ammonia, so I don't know.

[NachoMahma]

. Ammonia powder = ammonium bicarbonate, a leavening agent.

[canadian nh]

thanks for response, in fact ammonia available in kuwait powder white color, but I'm going to Canada sure I'll find liquid. Thanks again

[conceptualstratagem]

Yeah that crystal growth footage is tight. I need to make a sculpture with this process. Does anybody whose made this know what the density of the crystals are like, are they too delicate?

[merseyless]

too delicate

[CindyTee]

Love the movie! We just did this with a bunch of kids at VCS. It was a big success. The crystals are very delicate and collapse when you touch them. They do grow right back in a day or so. Instead of a TP roll, you can shape a pipe cleaner into a tree or snowflake or something and stick that in a sponge. The crystals will grow on it, making a cool sculpture.

[Kral]

To see what the blueing is for, see http://www.sciencecompany.com/sci-exper/crystal_exp3.htm

[ItsTheHobbs]

what does the bluing do?

[firefighter1333]

you can do it too without the bluing only it is then a lot less fun. so I did it without the bluing only I throwed it away cuz it smelled that bad

[401446]

omg i havn't laughed in a long time and that "they probably don't do it anymore because it involves dangerous chemicals like water" crack really made me laugh by the way great instructable.

[jessyratfink]

I kid you not, in downtown Louisville at the Waterfront they have signs that warn people not to play in the fountains because they "contain high levels of hydrogen." I kinda face-plained it the first time I read it, but it seriously works to keep people away. :P

[zachninme]

I bet the water also contains high amount of dihydrogen monoxide! That stuffs really bad, accidental inhalation can kill!

[egadsman]

bahaha use large complicated words and people will stay away... also bright colours help to make it look important.

[James (pseudo-geek)]

heh.

[musicalbee2003]

anything I can substitute for amonia? Essence of dog pee, maybe?

[TraumaComet]

Alternatively, you can also use dog shampoo made for white dogs. we used it at a daycare I worked at. The shampoo contains alot of bluing, especially the kind of shampoo that is meant to be diluted before use. Great instructable!

[moomoocows]

what is the laundry bluing and can I use something else

[Tool Using Animal]

It's prussian blue and so far as I know there is no substitute.

[capricorn]

Sweet :) One question, since I cannot seem to find that prussian thing in Belgium, will it work if I use water and some pigment?