Discover: Crystal Candy

Another method for separating and purifying solutes from solutions is called crystallization. If there is enough solute dissolved in solution, under the right conditions, these solute particles can come back together to form crystals.


Common crystals include snowflakes, diamonds, and table salt. The formation of crystals occurs all around us.

Video

How and why do crystals form? View this Incredible Egg Geode video to see an example of crystal formation.

Incredible Egg Geode - Sick Science!

How are crystals formed?

You will be using crystallization to separate a sugar solution. The result is a sugar crystal you can eat! 

Materials

  • wooden dowel or skewer
  • clothes pin
  • wide mouth jar
  • food colouring (optional)
  • boiling water
  • sugar
  • small wooden rod or pencil
  • paper towel

  Notebook

Click here to download the instructions for this activity. Save this file to your Chemistry Notebook.



  Career Connection

The use of crystals in our life is extremely varied and vast. Many jobs are centered on studying and using crystals for various purposes.  You might have guessed you could become a geologist (scientist who studies rocks) or a teacher but what about a video game maker, an electronics technician, or optician (prescribing eye glasses)?  Read more about quartz crystals and their use in various career fields.