A Question about home grown crystals?

[Doughboy]

What are they? Are they really classified as a crystal species? Is there any way to make one that wont dissolve when wet? Do any crystal like the ones grow at home happen in nature besides salt?

[insane_alien]

What are they?

 

depends on what you crystalised

 

Are they really classified as a crystal species?

 

Crystals don't come in species. there are various types of crystals depending on their lattice structure though. A crystal is a crystal no matter how it was formed.

 

Is there any way to make one that wont dissolve when wet?

 

If you crystalise something that isn't water soluble then yes.

 

Do any crystal like the ones grow at home happen in nature besides salt?

 

well seeing as you can crystalise pretty much anything at home, yep.

 

ice is a pretty common one. there are really too many to list.

[Doughboy]

What can you crystalize that isn't water soluble and how do I do it?

[insane_alien]

you can crystalise metals.

 

bismuth produces interesting results. basically, all you need to do is melt it and cool it down VERY slowly. the crystals will form when it gets supercooled.

[UC]

The type of crystals you're thinking about, such as quartz, cannot reasonably be grown at home. In high pressure superheated water saturated with a carrier salt, they can dissolve slightly. Part of the reactor tube is kept cooler and there, the material is less soluble and crystallizes out. The solution can then go dissolve more of the crystal in the hot part of the tube. repeat, repeat for a week and you have synthetic quartz.

 

However, as I said, this isn't very feasible at home. One you can try (though you won't be able to save the crystals because they're too fragile) is to mix a soluble calcium salt with a soluble sulfate salt. Filter off the calcium sulfate that crystallizes out, place the liquid in a jar, and let it sit undisturbed. Not all of the calcium sulfate crystallizes out immediately, and long, thin needle-like crystals will separate over the next few days if all goes well.

 

However, this isn't terribly interesting. The water-soluble salts have more or less a monopoly on all the lovely colors.

[John Cuthber]

"However, this isn't terribly interesting. The water-soluble salts have more or less a monopoly on all the lovely colors."

I think the organic dyestuffs makers would have something to say about that.

 

You can, if you are careful, crystallise naphthalene from methylated spirits.

It's white and dull, but it does crystallise well and it's not soluble in water. Aspirin and paracetamol are other options (a bit water soluble- but not very) and easier to get than naphthalene.

 

If you do try crystallising things from alcohol do remember that it's flammable.

[Doughboy]

"However, this isn't terribly interesting. The water-soluble salts have more or less a monopoly on all the lovely colors."

I think the organic dyestuffs makers would have something to say about that.

 

You can, if you are careful, crystallise naphthalene from methylated spirits.

It's white and dull, but it does crystallise well and it's not soluble in water. Aspirin and paracetamol are other options (a bit water soluble- but not very) and easier to get than naphthalene.

 

If you do try crystallising things from alcohol do remember that it's flammable.

 

first off what is methylated spirits and how hard is it to get a hold of and how do you crystalize aspirin?

[UC]

first off what is methylated spirits and how hard is it to get a hold of and how do you crystalize aspirin?

 

1) google is your friend

2) I prefer acetone for crystallizing aspirin. Buy uncoated, extra strength store brand aspirin. Crush the tablets, add acetone, and place in a bath of hot water somewhere with good ventilation (acetone stinks (isn't great to breathe) and the fumes are quite flammable). If your water was boiling recently and you have enough, the acetone will boil. remove the flask after a minute or two and filter while still hot to remove the binders, which don't dissolve. Do this in small portions so it doesn't crystallize in the filter, if you have a lot. Place the flask back in the hot water between filtering portions to keep it hot if you do this. Place the liquid in a clean glass dish somewhere with good ventilation and cover loosely with thin cloth or paper towel to keep dust out but allow acetone vapor to escape. As the liquid cools and then additional acetone evaporates at room temp, crystals of aspirin grow. They are quite lovely and grow fairly large if you don't disturb the dish.

[Doughboy]

that is cool, thanks, I will eventually try this

[Moontanman]

Does anyone remember growing crystals on coal with household chemicals? i did it when I was a kid but I don't remember the recipe.

 

This is what i am thinking of.

 

http://www.crystalgrowing.com/recipes/blueing/blueing.htm