1. Make your own edible diamonds Activity © Snapshot Science, 2012Snapshot Science Diamonds image: Mario Sarto @wikimedia commons Sugar image: Lauri Andler @ wikimedia commons Diamonds are large crystals. Other substances are also made up of crystals. Grains of sugar are tiny crystals. In this activity you are going to make big crystals out of sugar so they look like diamonds.

2. Make your own edible diamonds Activity © Snapshot Science, 2012Snapshot Science Step 1 Make a saturated sugar solution. A saturated solution is one where no more solute will dissolve into the solvent. Measure out about 100 cm 3 of just boiled water. Be careful – it is hot! Add some sugar and stir until it has dissolved. Keep on doing this until no more sugar will dissolve. Leave the solution to settle whilst you set up the next part.

3. Make your own edible diamonds Activity © Snapshot Science, 2012Snapshot Science Step 2 Seed your string. You are going to grow the sugar crystals on a piece of string. This happens more quickly if the crystals can grow around sugar crystals that are already on the string. Cut a piece of string about 50 cm long. Dip this into the sugar solution and then into a pile of sugar so it is all coated. Take it out of the sugar and leave it on a piece of paper to dry for 5 minutes.

4. Make your own edible diamonds Activity © Snapshot Science, 2012Snapshot Science Step 3 When your sugar solution has settled you should have a clear solution with the undissolved sugar at the bottom. When you have this you are ready for the next step. Carefully pour the sugar solution into a clean tub. Be careful not to pour in the undissolved sugar at the bottom. Place your string in the tub so the middle is lying under the solution and the ends are hanging out. You can tape it into position if you like.

5. Make your own edible diamonds Activity © Snapshot Science, 2012Snapshot Science Step 4 Now be patient and let your edible crystals grow! Place some kitchen paper over the tub (to keep the dust out) and leave it in a dark place where it won’t be disturbed. After about a week you should see crystals start to grow on the string. Be patient and do not move it. Take out the string when the crystals are big like diamonds (the ones in the picture needs another week or so). You can then wear it as a necklace (or give it to your Mum/sister/Nan). Oh…and you can eat it!!

6. The science bit… Activity © Snapshot Science, 2012Snapshot Science Some questions to answer: 1.Name the: a) solventb) solute you used 2.How did you know when the sugar had dissolved? 3.How did you know when you had made a saturated solution? 4.Use the particle model to explain: a) Why stirring helped the sugar to dissolve quicker. b) Why the solution went clear when the sugar dissolved. c) Why using hot water helps the sugar to dissolve quicker. 5.The more sugar dissolved in the water the faster the crystals will grow. Use the graph to explain why it would have been better to keep the water as hot as possible during the experiment.