Take advantage of the process of crystallization to make candy!\u00c2\u00a0 You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll create a super saturated solution of sugar and use it to grow your own homemade sugar candy crystals. (A super saturated solution is one that has as much sugar dissolved in the water as possible.\u00c2\u00a0 Note- if we didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t heat the water, we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d wind up with only a saturated solution.)<\/p>\n
Boil three cups of water in a large pot on the stove.\u00c2\u00a0 Add eight cups of sugar, one cup at a time, slowly stirring as you go.\u00c2\u00a0 The liquid should be thick and yellowish.\u00c2\u00a0 Turn off the heat and let it sit for four hours (or until the temperature is below 120 degrees F).\u00c2\u00a0 Pour the sugar water solution into clean glass jars and add a couple drops of food coloring (for colored crystals).\u00c2\u00a0 Tie a string to a skewer, resting the skewer horizontally across the jar mouth.\u00c2\u00a0 Let sit for a few weeks to a few months.<\/p>\n
What kind of questions can you ask about this project? <\/em>What happens when you vary the amount of water?\u00c2\u00a0 Sugar? Time? Seed or not to seed the stick?\u00c2\u00a0 Does it really matter how warm the environment is?\u00c2\u00a0 What if you don’t heat the solution to dissolve more?\u00c2\u00a0 Can\u00c2\u00a0 you color the crystals?\u00c2\u00a0 Why does the color stick (or not)? Does salt work instead of sugar? How about epsom salts? Does laundry detergent work, too?<\/p>\n The images below are sugar crystals, ammonia, and copper crystals.<\/p>\n\n\t\t