1. Crystal Formations!
By Quinn Santucci

2. Question
Which temperature will make the largest and purest crystals?

3. Background
I chose this experiment because a few years back, my dad gave me the idea to make candy crystals. It worked I just never compared it or really did an experiment on it. I thought this would be cool because I love seeing things form over time.
Crystals!!

4. Hypothesis If I put a jar of the mixture in 3 different temperatures,
then room temperature will make the largest and purest crystals.

5. Variables Independent: The temperature that the crystals wll form in.
Dependent: The size and purity of the crystals.
Constant: Same thermometer, same size jar, same recipe for mixture.

6. Procedure
Prepare an ice bath by filling the bowl half full of ice and add water until bowl is ¾ full.
Place bowl on counter-top or table.
Take temperature of the fridge, the counter or table and the ice bath.
Cut 3 equal pieces of string, and tie each one around each of the 3 pencils.
Fill cooking pot with enough water to fill each jar ¾ full.
Bring water to a boil and turn off stove.
Add a tablespoon of borax and stir until it dissolves. Continue adding a tablespoon of borax until no more borax can dissolve. (Average 3 tbs.)
Pour equal amounts into each jar, (Should be ¾ full)
Lay pencil, with string attached, across each jar so the string hangs down into solution
Cover jars with plastic wrap
Place jar into the 3 different temperatures
Leave jars alone for a minimum of 5 hours or until crystals form
Carefully remove the pencilsa nd record size abd shape of the crystals. Record all observations.

7. Data
Room Temp: O cm
Ice Bucket: 4 cm
Refrigerator: 3 cm

8. Graph

9. Conclusion Which temperature will create the largest crystals?
I created a formula that if put in the correct temperature, will make crystals. I tested to see which temperature was correct.
The Ice bath had the biggest crystals with 4 cm. The refrigerator had 3 cm, and the room temp didn’t grow at all.
My data does not support my hypothesis because I thought room temperature would create the largest crystals.
I learned that the colder the temperature the larger the crystals. It’s kind of like snow.
I would make it more organized than I did. I kind of did it sloppily.

11. The End