Introduction: How to Make Epsom Salt Crysals
This is my first instructable, so take it easy with the comments
Step 1: What You Need:
You Will Need:
1/4 cup (container)of Epsom Salts (Magnesium Sufate)
1/2 cup (container) of tap water
Shallow bowl or dish
Food Colouring (optional)
Sponge (optional)
Time (it took me three days, but it depends on sunlight)
Step 2: Water Boiling
1)Boil the Water in a microwave, kettle or stove, when it is boiled, add epsom salts and food colouring(optional)
Step 3: First Stages of Growth
Pour the mixture over the sponge or the container and place it in a warm and sunny location.
Step 4: Ta Da
Your Crystals should appear as the water evaporates.
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26 Comments
8 years ago on Introduction
easy
8 years ago on Introduction
i am making them for my girlfriend on a necklace put string in deep water with epsom salts and it grows up the string and i will buy a necklace chain off ebay
13 years ago on Introduction
Thats really cool! Does it only work with epsom salts? Can it be table salt?
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
sugar works ok also... but it forms rock candy!
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Table salt or NaCl forms square structures.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
table salt is not the same thing as Epsom salt. Table salt: NaCl; Epsom salt: MgSO4. Due to the nature of its elements and their bonds, table salt will not form crystals such as these.
13 years ago on Introduction
water wont boil in the microwave, it will make a mess. because in a microwave the water is heated past its boiling point before it has a chance to boil. i saw this somewere but dont remember were
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
Water most certainly will boil in a microwave. The superheating issue only really comes into play if the container lacks enough nucleation sites to get a good boil going. I boil water nearly every day in the microwave, 2 cups/500ml will boil in my microwave in approximately 3 min give or take 10 seconds. That said, I have used very very clean erlenmeyer flasks to superheat water and cause a crazy eruption upon agitation in a microwave too. The erlenmeyer works really good for this due to the narrow neck allowing a slightly higher pressure in the vessel. It's pretty damn cool really, but also dangerous you can burn yourself quite badly if you are not very careful
13 years ago on Step 4
I think the children at my playcentre will enjoy making this project plus the ingredients are safe for them to handle. will keep you updated on progress thanks
14 years ago on Introduction
Nice...will the crystals go away after awhile, or are the permanent. NICE!
14 years ago on Introduction
I found a great info site on epsom salts here: Bobbys Healthy Shop - Epsom Salts
they also sell it at a good price
14 years ago on Introduction
Try www.camdengrey.com They offer lots of raw materials such as epsom salt, citric acid, lye, oils, waxes. They offer lots of products for soapmakers or crafters.
14 years ago on Introduction
You took those pictures form "waynes this and that".
14 years ago on Introduction
How do you get your crystals to grow tall? I tried this as an arts & crafts project at work, and all of our crystals stayed quite flat to the bottom of the bowl. Also, are they supposed to break apart if you touch them? Many thanks for any advice.
15 years ago on Introduction
georg I don't blame you for having no pictures I did and I'm stile being beaten up about my first instructables
15 years ago on Introduction
Do you know where we can get the magnesium sulfate?
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
it should be available at your supermarket or local pharmacy. It would normally be sold as "epsom salts" though (like he says at the start) shouldn't be very expensive to do as well :)
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
I live in the Uk and it cost me £2.23 for 500g
15 years ago on Introduction
THAT'S INSANE!
I WOULD like to see more pictures though, but this is still cool, hopefully I will try out this awesome Instructable.
+1 rating.
15 years ago on Introduction
Maybe some more pictures would be nice. The instructable just seems empty the way it is.