Can we really make crystals out of soap? You bet! These crystals grow really fast, provided your solution is properly saturated. In only 12 hours, you should have sizable crystals sprouting up.
You can do this experiment with either skewers, string, or pipe cleaners. The advantage of using pipe cleaners is that you can twist the pipe cleaners together into interesting shapes, such as a snowflake or other design. Make sure the shape fits inside your jar.
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Here’s what you need:
- pipe cleaners (or string or skewer)
- cleaned out pickle, jam, or mayo jar
- water
- borax (AKA sodium tetraborate)
- adult help, stove, pan, and stirring spoon
Here’s what you do:
1. Cut a length of string and tie it to your pipe cleaner shape; tie the other end around a pencil or wooden skewer. You want the shape suspended in the jar, not touching the bottom or sides.
2. Bring enough water to fill the jar (at least 2 cups) to a boil on the stove (food coloring is fun, but entirely optional).
3. Add 1 cup of borax (aka sodium tetraborate or sodium borate) to the solution, stirring to dissolve. If there are no bits settling to the bottom, add another spoonful and stir until you cannot dissolve any more borax into the solution. When you see bits of borax at the bottom, you’re ready. (You’ll be adding in a lot of borax, which is why we asked you to get a full box). You have made a supersaturated solution. Make sure your solution is saturated, or your crystals will not grow.
4. Wait until your solution has cooled to about 130oF (hot to the touch, but not so hot that you yank your hand away). Pour this solution (just the liquid, not the solid bits) into the jar with the shape. Put the jar in a place where the crystals can grow undisturbed overnight, or even for a few days. Warmer locations (such as upstairs or on top shelves) is best.
Download worksheet and exercises
DO NOT EAT!!! Keep these crystals out of reach of small kids, as they look a lot like the Rock Candy Crystals.
Here are photos from kids ages 2, 7, 9 that made their own! Great job to the Fluker Family!!
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Actually, calcium carbonate is added to sugar to increase the rate, size and shape that sugar crystals form! You can try both calcium carbonate and also sugar on their own, and also mix together a third solution with both to see what kinds of results you get with all three. As a scientist, you get to do the experiments once you have great questions like these to work with!
Can I also make the laundry soap crystals out of calcium carbonate?
Give it a try and see how it goes!
Can I make the Landry soap crystals out of baking soda?
Sure, you could use pipe cleaner to make shapes using sugar crystals, but you can’t eat them. Because you would be eating little bits of pipe cleaner.
can you make pipe cleaner shapes for rock candy too?
The laundry soap crystals are not edible. You definitely don’t want to put them in your mouth.
how do you make it sour,i like sour?
Sure, you can use food coloring. But, that is optional.
Can we use food coloring for this experiment
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I need help I cant watch the video anymore what do
Unfortunately, other kinds of laundry soap won’t work. You must use Borax or a Borax equivalent.
Can you use other kinds of laundry soap
A LOT. You’ll need a whole box to do this recipe a couple of times.
How much borax dose it use, Zoya age 9 3/4.
I am not sure of your question – please ask again? What specifically did you need help with?
borax is used to make slime but i didnt know it can be used for a lot of things if i do make one with borax do i have to have my mom help me make it??
There are lots of things you can use, like salt, sugar, epsom salts, charcoal… keep looking in Unit 3 for more ideas!
Can you make it out of bathing soap?