Crystal Blue Persuasion

This year's science study is in chemistry. Part of a recent chapter discussed crystals, so I found an easy and quick-result crystal experiment/activity to do.

Here's the very easy recipe:

Crystal Flower Garden

1/2 c. water (warm or cold, see explanation below)
4 Tbsp. liquid bluing
4 Tbsp. salt
4 tsp. ammonia
Q-tips
natural or oil-based clay
clear, small, shallow dish
food coloring

A day in advance take the Q-tips and cut off one of the tips on each one and discard the cut tips. Put drops of food coloring on the remaining Q-tip ends and allow to dry on wax paper.

The next day, take a lump of clay and stick it in the bottom of the dish. Stick the cut ends of the Q-tips in the clay, sticking up like flowers, giving them each enough space for crystals to grow on the tips.

Mix up the water, bluing, salt, and ammonia. Pour the mixture into the dish, allowing it to cover the bottom half inch of the Q-tips. Set in an open space where the dish will not get bumped and watch the flower crystals grow. You will see growth in just a few hours.

We did two dishes, and I'm so glad we did. The salt wasn't dissolving very much in the first one we did, so the second time we used warm water, and man, were the results fascinating.

Below: After one day.....Emma watching the crystals...this one was the cold water dish.Below: Emma is amazed at the difference...here's the warm water dish.
Below: After 2 days.....more growth in the cold water dish.

Below: After 2 days.....the warm water dish is really going to town.

Below: After 3 days.....cold dish is showing some real signs of improvement...

Below: After 3 days....but warm dish is kicking cold dish's butt.

Below: After 4 days, cold dish is still very reserved.

Below: After 4 days....warm dish is trying to TAKE OVER THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!

....and it's.....still.....GROWING!!!!! AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!