Difference between revisions of "Alum Crystal"

Latest revision as of 14:26, 24 April 2019

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[[File:

Grocery store alum

][1]]] [[File:

Alum crystal

][2]]]

Alum Background

From the wikipedia page on Alum ^[1]

You may find it in the grocery store's spice aisle. It is often used to make pickles crispy, but can also be used to grow large, diamond like crystals. Alum is a hydrated double sulfate salt of aluminum and potassium. “Alum” also known as aluminum potassium sulfate.

Alum is a non-toxic compound, with medicinal uses, but may cause eye irritation.

What are Crystals?

Crystals may be found in nature or created in a lab and are characterized as having an orderly, repetitive atomic arrangement. This arrangement is known as a crystal lattice. Large single crystals are identifiable by their geometric shape, often including flat faces. Many inorganic solids are polycrystals, rather than crystals. A polycrystal is a fusion of many individual crystals into one structure. Recrystallization is a common technique used to purify substances. ^[2]

Creating Alum Crystals

^[3] Alum is a small white crystal. A larger alum crystal structure can be created from the compound. General steps are listed below:

Pour hot water into a clean container
Slowly add alum, until saturated solution is created. Food coloring can be added at this stage.
Lightly cover saturated alum solution with paper towel to avoid contamination
12-24 hours later, transfer solution to new container, at the bottom of this container are the “seed crystals” used to grow a larger crystal
Tie string around the largest “seed crystal”
Let the “seed crystal” hang in the saturated alum solution, without touching the bottom or sides of the container
Add more alum to the solution to maintain a saturated solution

Examples

Video"DIY Crystal at Home"[3]

Video"Grow Transparent Single Alum Crystals"[4]

Protocol "Growing Alum Crystals"[5] ^[4]

References

[1] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alum

[2] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal

[3] ttps://www.thoughtco.com/growing-a-big-alum-crystal-602197

[4] ttps://www.raci.org.au/document/item/249

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[2]

[3]

[4]

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 [http://esr.monmsci.net/wiki/index.php/Growing_Crystals back to Crystal Growing...]
-[[File:[[File:alum spice photo.jpg|400px]]Borax.jpeg|thumb|upright|right|[https://www.dollargeneral.com/borax-all-natural-detergent-booster-multi-purpose-household-cleaner-65-oz-box.html]]]
+[[File:[[File:alum spice photo.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Grocery store alum]]][http://www.periodictable.com/Samples/Alum2/s13.JPG]]]
-[[File:Borax Pipe Cleaner Shape.jpg|thumb|upright|right|An example of what a crystal can look like [https://www.danslelakehouse.com/2015/01/diy-borax-crystals.html]]]
-==Borax Background==
-From the wikipedia page on Borax<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borax</ref>
-Borax is a water-soluble mineral that can be found naturally in deposits produced by the evaporation of lakes; in fact, it was first discovered in dry lake beds in Tibet<ref>https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2588</ref>.  It is a soft, white crystal powder that is commonly found in <ref>https://www.20muleteamlaundry.com/about</ref> <ref>https://thechemco.com/chemical/borax/?no_redirect=true&_vsrefdom=adwords&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwODlBRDuARIsAMy_28U0LzbGNTPHrhyTtTI_mFi9vJpWw9f0OmAlAuEXl9rmVR3s4GoGEicaAlUWEALw_wcB:</ref>
+[[File:[[File:alum cyrstal.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Alum crystal]]][https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/9/gallery/alum/Alum-Collection.png]]]
-*detergents
-*cosmetics
-*enamel glazes
-*fire retardant
-*buffer solutions
-Other names for borax are sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate.  From a chemical standpoint, the [B4O5(OH)4]2− ion is what identifies something as borax<ref>https://thechemco.com/chemical/borax/?no_redirect=true&_vsrefdom=adwords&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwODlBRDuARIsAMy_28U0LzbGNTPHrhyTtTI_mFi9vJpWw9f0OmAlAuEXl9rmVR3s4GoGEicaAlUWEALw_wcB:</ref>.
-===Safety<ref>https://thechemco.com/chemical/borax/?no_redirect=true&_vsrefdom=adwords&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwODlBRDuARIsAMy_28U0LzbGNTPHrhyTtTI_mFi9vJpWw9f0OmAlAuEXl9rmVR3s4GoGEicaAlUWEALw_wcB:</ref>===
-Sufficient exposure to Borax dust can cause respiratory and skin irritation. Ingestion may cause gastrointestinal distress including nausea, persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Effects on the vascular system and brain include headaches and lethargy, but are less frequent.
-:'''''First Aid:''''' <ref>http://www.globalhort.com/pdf/MSDS/minorElements/Borax%205%20Mol%20-%20Sun%20Parlour.PDF</ref>
-::'''Eye Contact:'''Flush eyes with gently flowing water for at least 30 minutes or until the chemical is removed, while holding the eyelid(s) open. Take care not to rinse the contaminated water into the unaffected eye or face. Seek immediate medical
-attention.
-::'''Skin Contact:'''Wash with soap and water.
+==Alum Background==
+From the wikipedia page on Alum <ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alum</ref>
-::'''Inhalation:'''Remove person to fresh air. If not breathing, given artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, get immediate
+You may find it in the grocery store's spice aisle. It is often used to make pickles crispy, but can also be used to grow large, diamond like crystals. Alum is a hydrated double sulfate salt of aluminum and potassium. “Alum” also known as aluminum potassium sulfate.
-medical attention.
-::'''Ingestion:'''Do NOT induce vomiting. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious or convulsing person. Seek
+Alum is a non-toxic compound, with medicinal uses, but may cause eye irritation.
-immediate medical attention. If vomiting occurs spontaneously, keep head below hips to prevent aspiration of liquid into
-the lungs
-==Borax Crystals==
+==What are Crystals?==
-The most general way to grow a crystal includes forming a supersaturated solution by heating up water and adding in the crystal medium. This is an example of creating a supersaturated Borax solution.
-===General Procedure===
-The following is the procedure that I followed:
+Crystals may be found in nature or created in a lab and are characterized as having an orderly, repetitive atomic arrangement. This arrangement is known as a crystal lattice. Large single crystals are identifiable by their geometric shape, often including flat faces. Many inorganic solids are polycrystals, rather than crystals. A polycrystal is a fusion of many individual crystals into one structure. Recrystallization is a common technique used to purify substances.
-# Obtain Borax Detergent, a 250 mL beaker, a stirplate/hotplate, and a stirbar.
+<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal</ref>
-# Begin heating up the water on the hotplate and add the stirbar.
-# Once hot, begin adding the Borax Detergent (It will take some time for it to dissolve, but it eventually will).
-# Keep adding until the Borax will no longer dissolve
-# Use pipe cleaners to create a shape in which you want the crystals to form on
-# tie a string to the pipe cleaner to a wooden skewer or some object that can drape across the diameter of the beaker
-# dip the pipe cleaner into the supersaturated solution several times to release air bubbles
-# suspend the pipe cleaner in the beaker so it is completely submerged but doesn't touch the bottom or sides
-# Cover the finished solution with something(a watchglass or paper) and let it sit overnight.
-===Eamples===
-'''Video'''"How to Make Giant Borax Crystals"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7g_KNm1dus&t=322s]
-'''Website''' "Giant Borax Crystals"[https://www.thoughtco.com/diy-giant-borax-crystals-606240]"DIY Borax Crystals"[https://www.danslelakehouse.com/2015/01/diy-borax-crystals.html]
+===Creating Alum Crystals===
+<ref>https://www.thoughtco.com/growing-a-big-alum-crystal-602197</ref>
+Alum is a small white crystal. A larger alum crystal structure can be created from the compound. General steps are listed below:
-===Possible Alterations===
+# Pour hot water into a clean container
-'''Make it Glow''' To make your crystal glow under UV light, you can add the contents of a fluorescent highlighter into the saturated Borax solution.  If food coloring is used to make the crystals a different color, the intensity of the glow can be reduced.
+# Slowly add alum, until saturated solution is created. Food coloring can be added at this stage.
+# Lightly cover saturated alum solution with paper towel to avoid contamination
+# 12-24 hours later, transfer solution to new container, at the bottom of this container are the “seed crystals” used to grow a larger crystal
+# Tie string around the largest “seed crystal”
+# Let the “seed crystal” hang in the saturated alum solution, without touching the bottom or sides of the container
+# Add more alum to the solution to maintain a saturated solution
+===Examples===
+'''Video'''"DIY Crystal at Home"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DUDhkw3AF4]
+'''Video'''"Grow Transparent Single Alum Crystals"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIAkWaQi0AE]
+'''Protocol''' "Growing Alum Crystals"[https://www.raci.org.au/document/item/249] <ref>https://www.raci.org.au/document/item/249</ref>
-'''Different Base <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMfc2Z-LWBY</ref>''' If you don't want to use a pipe cleaner as the base for the crystal, another possibility is to use a clay or polymer base. Use the following instructions:
-#prepare the supersaturated Borax solution as stated in the original directions
-#shape the clay or polymer into the shape you want
-#bake the base so it can harden
-#use glue or modgepodge to coat the inside of the base
-#sprinkle Borax powder on the glue to give a thick coat
-#submerge the base in the saturated solution and let it sit overnight
 ==References==