DIY Space Crystals (Fun science project!)

Описание: Explainers Anne and Annah, from NYSCI, demonstrate how to make DIY space crystals with household materials.

Explainers at the New York Hall of Science
Explainers are part of the Science Career Ladder (SCL) – the signature program of NYSCI’s Alan J. Friedman Center for the Development of Young Scientists. They perform science demonstrations and engage visitors in STEM conversations.

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SCRIPT
There are so many words to describe the beauty of crystals.
Hi, my name is Annah and I'm an Explainer at the New York Hall of Science.
And if you want to make some of your own crystals – stay tuned!
Lately, I've been quite interested
in space, and I want to create my own model that captures the essence of the universe.
Well, maybe not the entire universe…
since that would just take up too much space! (pun intended).
So I thought – nothing screams planets
and stars
more than glimmering crystals.
Now to complete this project,
I've been working with my friend Anne, since she is also a crystal enthusiast.
Hi everyone! I'm Anne, I'm an Explainer here at the New York Hall of Science
and I love playing around, creating different crystals at home.
There are so many different types of crystals.
Can you think of any that you’ve seen in real life?
There are crystals all around us,
like sugar
and salt used to add taste to foods.
Diamonds
and quartz in our jewelry –
and snowflakes during the cold winter months.
I do wonder how these crystals are formed naturally?
Hey Annah, can you share your knowledge of natural crystal formation with us?
Definitely Anne! I do know a bit about naturally forming crystals,
and I love to share what I've learned.
First, let's start off by talking about a thing called Atoms.
Think of atoms as one single Lego.
Like this one right here.
Now if you’ve seen the Periodic Table before,
you may know that they're different elements
and each element is made of one atom.
Or one Lego in this case.
Here, the different colors of the Legos are like elements.
I've got Calcium,
Oxygen,
and Carbon.
When we combine Legos (or atoms) we call this a molecule.
Molecules are made when one or more atoms from different elements is chemically bonded.
If we combine several Lego molecules
and or atoms, and form them in a pattern – we will get a Lego Crystal.
This Crystal is called Calcite.
By changing the elements, atoms or molecules used –
as well as the pattern they make –
crystals of different sizes, shapes and colors can be created.
Now that you know the science behind crystals,
it's time we transform these Legos into actual crystals.
Thanks Annah! The materials needed to grow crystals are:
Borax.
Mason jars
Spoon
Hot water
Pom-poms
Pipe cleaners
and craft sticks.
If you don't have any Borax available,
you can always substitute it with other minerals.
Here's a handy table to show you how.
You can also use this chart to help you determine
how much water and minerals to use.
After you have all your materials ready, grab an adult to help you with these next few steps.
Fill your pot with water and place it over medium heat.
In the meantime, let's make our designs.
Take your pipe cleaners and form whatever shapes you like.
Tie one end of a pipe cleaner to your design
and the other end to your craft stick. Do the same with the pom-poms.
Place one to two designs in the jar,
and make sure that they're not touching each other, the side
or the bottom of the jar.
Alright. Now we're going to continue working on our solution.
Once it comes to a boil, turn off the stove.
Then measure and add in your minerals, and stir until it dissolves.
When the temperature of the water increases,
the molecules move further away from each other –
making it easier to dissolve our minerals.
As the solution cools down, the water molecules start to move closer and closer –
forming the crystals, that start to stick onto our pipe cleaners and pom poms.
In order for the crystals to appear,
they need something to attach to.
In scientific terms – a ‘nucleation site’.
Here, the pom-poms and the pipe cleaners act as nucleation sites.
Pour the solution into the jar 3/4 of the way – or enough to cover your design.
You can add some food coloring to give your crystals some color.
Place the jars in the fridge – and your crystals will take about six to 24 hours to grow.
You can check on them from time to time to observe the growth.
Now, take out the formed crystals
and cut the strings off if you want.
Look at our beautiful crystals!
As you can see, no two crystals are the same.
There are lots of different shapes and colors that crystals can make.
Let's see Annah's unique creations!
Wow Anne, your crystals out of this world!
I tried it out myself
and I even drew a little background to showcase my results from this DIY activity.
Are there any other shapes you would like to make crystals from?