Date: Wed, 15 Oct 1997 19:44:55 -0700
From: Jory Gessow <gessow@well.com>
To: Pinhole Listserv <pinhole@exploratorium.edu>
Subject: request for crystal growing labs
Hello Pinholers,
I am about to start studying crystals and minerals with my middle
school Earth Science classes. There is what appears to be a good lab in
the Heath Earth Science textbook which we use. I make ahead of time
solutions of water and copper sulfate and water and sodium chloride, (as
much of each chemical as the water will absorb). I then put small
amounts onto watchglasses, (I'll use beakers) and let crystals form
overnight. The next day I give the kids the solutions and have them form
crystals by evaporating the water over a hotplate. Finally they compare
the crystals I made with the crystals they made. The crystals that
took longer to form should be bigger. I'm wondering if anyone has any
improvements or additions to this lab, maybe using different chemicals to
make the crystals, or perhaps looking at the crystals under a microscope.
Thanks.
Jory Gessow
Tehiyah Day School
gessow@well.com