The Crystal-Needle Experiment

Demonstrated by Maren Ervin2009

The experiment demonstrates how crystals are formed from salt. I

used tap water and Epsom salt to demonstrate my experiment.

Evaporation causes salt to form into crystals

• Water evaporates and the salt is still there. This is evaporation.

Me mixing the water and Epsom salt

Pouring into the jar lid

The Crystal-Needles Grew!

I got a jar lid and black construction paper. I cut the paper into a circle the size of the lid and put it into the lid. I poured about 1 cup of water into a measuring cup and mixed Epsom salt into it. I poured the water mixture into the jar lid and then left it there for about 2 days. As you can see in the picture, the crystal-needles formed.

Minerals we get from crystals

• AMETHYST, the purple variety of quartz

A partial list of minerals we get from crystals:Purple amethyst CalciteCopperSilverQuartsFluorite

Crystal PalaceMexico, estimated to be between

30,000-600,000 years old

My Display Board

Sources of Information• http://www.galleries.com/minerals/property/

associat.htm• http://www.inlandlapidary.com/user_area/

identifying.asp• http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/11/crystal-

giants/shea-text/2• http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/1159• http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/

nonpwdpubs/young_naturalist/earth_sciences/crystals/index.phtml

• 200 Gooey, Slippery, Slimy, Weird & Fun Experiments by Janice VanCleave

Acknowledgments

• Thanks to Darcy Ervin, Wendy Ervin, Onyea Sholty, and Dalton Ervin for helping.