Grow Crystals

Intro: Grow Crystals

This instructable shows you how to grow your own crystals, using Copper Sulphate.

STEP 1: Materials

To produce Copper Sulphate crystals, you need the following:

1) Copper Sulphate in powder form
2) A glass jar
3) A small button
4) Some thin (plastic coated) wire
5) A paper clip
6) A spoon

STEP 2: Prepare the "Crystal Seed"

First you need to prepare the paper clip and button. This acts as a base or "seed" for your crystal. Unwind the paper clip and thread the button through it, as show below.

Then, cut the wire in half so that you have two pieces. Tie each wire to each side of the paper clip.
This arrangement ensures that the "seed" remains submerged in the saturated solution.

STEP 3: Prepare the Solution

Pour some hot water into the jar.
Add copper sulphate to the hot water and dissolve. Keep on adding copper sulphate until no more dissolves. Repeat this process until the jar is almost filled to the top with solution. Remember: it is extremely important that the solution is saturated! This means that if you add any more powder to it, it does not dissolve after stirring well. Your solution should be dark blue, and no light should pass through it. Copper Sulphate is very soluble and can be absorbed through the skin, so please wear gloves when preparing the solution.

STEP 4: Place the "Seed" and Wait

Lastly, place your prepared wire and button in the solution so that the button is suspended about half way into the jar. Do not move the jar once this is done. Leave the jar as it is for 24 hours. Crystals will have grown around the button and along the wire. Leaving your jar for longer will produce larger crystals. Remember, the more saturated your solution was, the bigger your crystals will be. You can remove the crystals from the jar and dry them with some paper towels. You have now made some Copper Sulphate crystals!

Below is our video of this instructable:

Comments

[mackenzieknight]

that looks dum

[bakkos]

i used to grow cupper sulfate, and to prevent it, ialways used clear, transparent nail polish. it isolates Crystal from air, moisture, Water.

[ZohairShafi]

Did that always work? I want to make one. Worried about it getting dry and loosing its colour.

[VictorY25]

lol

[solipsil]

I'm wondering, is there a translucent material that can be painted on to "seal" it and prevent its decay? this could make an awesome necklace..

[Kittyluv123456789]

I dont know if this will help 6 years since yoi asked this question, but a clear nail polish will do the trick. Coat the crystal in the polish and it will last longer. ☆

[DaggerTA]

Hi

[ZohairShafi]

Should i be worried about the crystals loosing the water molecules if kept in the open? Or is it necessary to keep them in airtight containers?

[ninjakid11]

nice. I might try it, or fail. <8(. Although I might be able to sell it in my shop.

[juju__]

my sister spilt the solution on me (by mistake) should i be worried?

[studleylee]

How would you grow a large pentacene crystal?

[911no]

What can be made with these crystals? can you make jewelry?

[Eirinn]

The crystals are toxic, i suggest you don't ;) they're usualy made in high school chemistry experiments.

[loverbey]

this might have been mentioned at the start!

[Eirinn]

It really should have.

The chemical was once used as a vomit inducing drug. I doubt they're lethal (everything is lethal in large quantities, even water).

[Project 23]

great tut man, definitely trying this and subscribing :))

[zakamooza]

how many grams of copper sulfate to ml of water ?

[ssukhi]

U just have to make a super saturated solution, much like sugar crystals. When making sugar supersaturated solution, the water turns yellow. I"m not sure about coppersulfate

[TruckerDude]

If you are concerned about toxicity in this project, search about.com for growing sugar crystals. They are in fact edible.
Another method (is not edible) use laundry blueing, ammonia, salt and water.

[Thundertydus]

I was told that if I leave it out, it will shrink and fall apart, true?