Borax Crystal
{{chembox | Verifiedfields = changed | Watchedfields = changed | verifiedrevid = 455055388 | Name = Borax | OtherNames = Borax decahydrate | ImageFile = Borax crystals.jpg | ImageName = Borax crystals | ImageSize = 260px | ImageFile1 = BoraxChem.png | ImageName1 = Ball-and-stick model of the unit cell of borax decahydrate | ImageSize1 = 244px | IUPACName = Sodium tetraborate decahydrate |Section1=Template:Chembox Identifiers
General Procedure
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.
For a general procedure, the following link can be used: [1] [2]
The following is the procedure that I followed:
- Obtain Borax Detergent, a 250 mL beaker, a stirplate/hotplate, and a stirbar.
- 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.