Grow A Crystal Garden Kitchen Science Experiment
This is a super cool kitchen science experiment that is a lot of fun and easy to make. There are many examples of crystals that exists in nature. Diamonds, quartz, and pyrite are just a few, but in this experiment we are going to show you how to grow your very own crystal garden right in your kitchen.
- Epsom salt
- Clear glass jar or bottle – If using a bottle you will also need a funnel.
- Small pom-poms
- Access to hot tap water
- Measuring cups
- Put 1 cup of Epsom salt in the clear glass jar.
- Carefully add 1 cup of very hot tap water to the jar.
- Stir the mixture. There may be undissolved Epsom salt in the bottom of the jar which is fine.
- Add the pom-poms and stir some more.
- Now place the jar in a refrigerator overnight. Be sure it is in a location where it will not be disturbed.
- Check your crystal garden the next morning.
- Feel free to pour off any excess liquid and touch the crystals. Just be aware that the crystals are delicate and may break.
How it Works:
The Epsom salt dissolves in the hot water and creates a supersaturated solution. As the solution cools, the salt crystalizes on the pom-poms creating your crystal garden.
Make This A Science Project:
Try to make a crystal garden with other household items such as sugar, baking soda, borax, and salt. Test different durations of time for the crystals to grow and observe any noticeable differences. Try different items other than pom-poms as the surface for your crystals to attach and grow. Test to see if different temperatures effect the growth of the crystal garden.