<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
  <channel>
    <title>crystals &amp;mdash; Paul Sutton</title>
    <link>https://personaljournal.ca/paulsutton/tag:crystals</link>
    <description>Personal Blog</description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 20:01:35 +0000</pubDate>
    <item>
      <title>Growing salt crystals - 2nd attempt</title>
      <link>https://personaljournal.ca/paulsutton/growing-salt-crystals-2nd-attempt</link>
      <description>&lt;![CDATA[&#xA;Growing salt crystals - 2nd attempt&#xA;&#xA;Following my previous attempt at this.  I am now repeating the experiment with pure Sodium Chloride.   I am also using a 250ml conical flask,  which is much larger.&#xA;&#xA;This time I used hot water from the kettle,  taking a precaution of warming this up with warm tap water first,  just in case the sudden temperature changed caused the flask to shatter.  I then added Sodium Chloride powder. &#xA;&#xA;Salt crystals 1&#xA;&#xA;Salt crystals 2&#xA;&#xA;I am now leaving this to hopefully grow some nice crystals which I would expect to be more of a cuboid shape.  This prediction is based on:-&#xA;&#xA;Pictures of similar results&#xA;The molecular shape of Sodium Chloride. &#xA;&#xA;I am doing this for:&#xA;&#xA;Support the STEM Group events&#xA;Hopefully can use this in a school to help children grow their own crystals. &#xA;Personal interest&#xA;Research purposes&#xA;&#xA;Links&#xA;&#xA;Better Equipped&#xA;Paignton Library STEM Group&#xA;   Science forum discussion&#xA;Science Forums&#xA;Discourse Discussion&#xA;Tuxiversity&#xA;Qoto Mastodon&#xA;Social coding&#xA;Science Daily&#xA;&#xA;TAGS&#xA;&#xA;#YearOfTheFediverse,#FediverseRising,#Science,#Chemistry,#Growing,#SodiumChloride,#Salt,#Crystals.&#xA;&#xA;img src=&#34;https://socialhub.activitypub.rocks/uploads/default/original/2X/d/dd8ee2842d572bad100cde42f7c98232e69ea9f7.png&#34; target=&#34;_blank&#34; &#xA;&#xA;hr&#xA;&#xA;a href=&#34;https://liberapay.com/PaulSutton/donate&#34;img alt=&#34;Donate using Liberapay&#34; src=&#34;https://liberapay.com/assets/widgets/donate.svg&#34;/a&#xA;&#xA;a rel=&#34;license&#34; href=&#34;http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/&#34;img alt=&#34;Creative Commons Licence&#34; style=&#34;border-width:0&#34; src=&#34;https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-sa/4.0/88x31.png&#34; //abr /This work is licensed under a a rel=&#34;license&#34; href=&#34;http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/&#34;Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License/a&#xA;&#xA;hr&#xD;&#xA;&#xD;&#xA;table&#xD;&#xA;thead&#xD;&#xA;trtda rel=&#34;me&#34; href=&#34;https://qoto.org/@zleap&#34;Mastodon/a/td&#xD;&#xA;tda href=&#34;https://wiki.ircnow.org/?n=Shelllabs.Intro&#34;ShellLabs/td&#xD;&#xA;tda href=&#34;https://joinmastodon.org/&#34;Join Mastodon/a/td/tr/thead/table&#xD;&#xA;center&#xD;&#xA;AI statement : b Consent is NOT granted to use the content of this blog for the purposes of AI training or similar activity.  Consent CANNOT be assumed, it has to be granted. /b&#xD;&#xA;/center&#xD;&#xA;&#xD;&#xA;a href=&#34;https://liberapay.com/PaulSutton/donate&#34;img alt=&#34;Donate using Liberapay&#34; src=&#34;https://liberapay.com/assets/widgets/donate.svg&#34;/a&#xD;&#xA;]]&gt;</description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Growing salt crystals – 2nd attempt</strong></p>

<p>Following my <a href="https://personaljournal.ca/paulsutton/growing-salt-crystals" rel="nofollow">previous attempt</a> at this.  I am now repeating the experiment with pure Sodium Chloride.   I am also using a 250ml conical flask,  which is much larger.</p>

<p>This time I used hot water from the kettle,  taking a precaution of warming this up with warm tap water first,  just in case the sudden temperature changed caused the flask to shatter.  I then added Sodium Chloride powder.</p>

<p><img src="https://git.qoto.org/zleap/documents/-/raw/master/science/crystals2022.JPG" alt="Salt crystals 1"></p>

<p><img src="https://git.qoto.org/zleap/documents/-/raw/master/science/crystals2022a.JPG" alt="Salt crystals 2"></p>

<p>I am now leaving this to hopefully grow some nice crystals which I would expect to be more of a cuboid shape.  This prediction is based on:-</p>
<ul><li>Pictures of similar results</li>
<li>The molecular shape of Sodium Chloride.</li></ul>

<p>I am doing this for:</p>
<ul><li>Support the STEM Group events</li>
<li>Hopefully can use this in a school to help children grow their own crystals.</li>
<li>Personal interest</li>
<li>Research purposes</li></ul>

<p><strong>Links</strong></p>
<ul><li><a href="https://www.betterequipped.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Better Equipped</a></li>
<li><a href="https://personaljournal.ca/paigntonlibrarystemgroup/" rel="nofollow">Paignton Library STEM Group</a>
<ul><li><a href="https://www.scienceforums.net/topic/126169-crystal-growing" rel="nofollow">Science forum discussion</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="https://www.scienceforums.net" rel="nofollow">Science Forums</a></li>
<li><a href="https://discourse.qoto.org/" rel="nofollow">Discourse Discussion</a></li>
<li><a href="https://forum.tuxiversity.org/" rel="nofollow">Tuxiversity</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.qoto.org" rel="nofollow">Qoto Mastodon</a></li>
<li><a href="https://coding.social/" rel="nofollow">Social coding</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com" rel="nofollow">Science Daily</a></li></ul>

<p><strong>TAGS</strong></p>

<p><a href="/paulsutton/tag:YearOfTheFediverse" class="hashtag" rel="nofollow"><span>#</span><span class="p-category">YearOfTheFediverse</span></a>,<a href="/paulsutton/tag:FediverseRising" class="hashtag" rel="nofollow"><span>#</span><span class="p-category">FediverseRising</span></a>,<a href="/paulsutton/tag:Science" class="hashtag" rel="nofollow"><span>#</span><span class="p-category">Science</span></a>,<a href="/paulsutton/tag:Chemistry" class="hashtag" rel="nofollow"><span>#</span><span class="p-category">Chemistry</span></a>,<a href="/paulsutton/tag:Growing" class="hashtag" rel="nofollow"><span>#</span><span class="p-category">Growing</span></a>,<a href="/paulsutton/tag:SodiumChloride" class="hashtag" rel="nofollow"><span>#</span><span class="p-category">SodiumChloride</span></a>,<a href="/paulsutton/tag:Salt" class="hashtag" rel="nofollow"><span>#</span><span class="p-category">Salt</span></a>,<a href="/paulsutton/tag:Crystals" class="hashtag" rel="nofollow"><span>#</span><span class="p-category">Crystals</span></a>.</p>

<p><a href="https://torresjrjr.com/archive/2020-07-19-guide-to-the-fediverse" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://socialhub.activitypub.rocks/uploads/default/original/2X/d/dd8ee2842d572bad100cde42f7c98232e69ea9f7.png"></a></p>

<hr>

<p><a href="https://liberapay.com/PaulSutton/donate" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Donate using Liberapay" src="https://liberapay.com/assets/widgets/donate.svg"></a></p>

<p><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Creative Commons Licence" style="border-width:0" src="https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-sa/4.0/88x31.png"/></a><br/>This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/" rel="nofollow">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License</a></p>

<hr>

<p><table>
<thead>
<tr><td><a href="https://qoto.org/@zleap" rel="nofollow">Mastodon</a></td>
<td><a href="https://wiki.ircnow.org/?n=Shelllabs.Intro" rel="nofollow">ShellLabs</td>
<td><a href="https://joinmastodon.org/" rel="nofollow">Join Mastodon</a></td></tr></thead></table>

AI statement : <b> Consent is NOT granted to use the content of this blog for the purposes of AI training or similar activity.  Consent CANNOT be assumed, it has to be granted. </b>
</p>

<p><a href="https://liberapay.com/PaulSutton/donate" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Donate using Liberapay" src="https://liberapay.com/assets/widgets/donate.svg"></a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
      <guid>https://personaljournal.ca/paulsutton/growing-salt-crystals-2nd-attempt</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 23 Feb 2022 16:31:53 +0000</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Growing Salt Crystals</title>
      <link>https://personaljournal.ca/paulsutton/growing-salt-crystals</link>
      <description>&lt;![CDATA[Growing Salt Crystals&#xA;&#xA;Reposting this due to adding a link to a Science Forum post. &#xA;&#xA;As Salt (Sodium Chloride) dissolves in water,  you can grow salt crystals quite easily.  There are lots of  instructions on the internet, on how to do this with Salt, as well as other chemicals; such as, Alum (Aluminium Sulfate), Borax (Sodium Borate) for example. &#xA;&#xA;For the purpose of my attempt, I used &#xA;&#xA;*a conical flask from my old Chemistry set,  &#xA;a wooden lollipop stick, &#xA;string &#xA;paper clip (to hold the string in the solution)&#xA;&#xA;This is illustrated in the first picture, while the 2nd is a photo of the resulting crystal formation.&#xA;&#xA;Flask&#xA;Crystals&#xA;&#xA;Update 17/10/2021&#xA;&#xA;I took more photos on the 4th October to illustrate further growth of the crystals&#xA;&#xA;one&#xA;two&#xA;three&#xA;&#xA;It is probably worth mentioning that table salt contains Sodium Chloride but also a Anti caking agent called Sodium Ferrycyanide which according to that wikipedia article is a yellow solid. &#xA;&#xA;I am not sure if this somehow affects the growth or shape of the resultng crystals.   At some point I should try the same experiment pure NaCl&#xA;&#xA;Science forum discussion&#xA;Science Forums&#xA;&#xA;Tags&#xA;&#xA;#Chemistry,#Salt,#SodiumChloride,#NaCl,#Crystals&#xA;&#xA;hr&#xD;&#xA;&#xD;&#xA;table&#xD;&#xA;thead&#xD;&#xA;trtda rel=&#34;me&#34; href=&#34;https://qoto.org/@zleap&#34;Mastodon/a/td&#xD;&#xA;tda href=&#34;https://wiki.ircnow.org/?n=Shelllabs.Intro&#34;ShellLabs/td&#xD;&#xA;tda href=&#34;https://joinmastodon.org/&#34;Join Mastodon/a/td/tr/thead/table&#xD;&#xA;center&#xD;&#xA;AI statement : b Consent is NOT granted to use the content of this blog for the purposes of AI training or similar activity.  Consent CANNOT be assumed, it has to be granted. /b&#xD;&#xA;/center&#xD;&#xA;&#xD;&#xA;a href=&#34;https://liberapay.com/PaulSutton/donate&#34;img alt=&#34;Donate using Liberapay&#34; src=&#34;https://liberapay.com/assets/widgets/donate.svg&#34;/a&#xD;&#xA;]]&gt;</description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Growing Salt Crystals</p>

<p>Reposting this due to adding a link to a Science Forum post.</p>

<p>As Salt (Sodium Chloride) dissolves in water,  you can grow salt crystals quite easily.  There are lots of  instructions on the internet, on how to do this with Salt, as well as other chemicals; such as, Alum (Aluminium Sulfate), Borax (Sodium Borate) for example.</p>

<p>For the purpose of my attempt, I used</p>

<p>*a conical flask from my old Chemistry set,<br>
* a wooden lollipop stick,
* string
* paper clip (to hold the string in the solution)</p>

<p>This is illustrated in the first picture, while the 2nd is a photo of the resulting crystal formation.</p>

<p><img src="https://git.qoto.org/zleap/documents/-/raw/master/science/salt2.JPG" alt="Flask">
<img src="https://git.qoto.org/zleap/documents/-/raw/master/science/salt1.JPG" alt="Crystals"></p>

<p><strong>Update 17/10/2021</strong></p>

<p>I took more photos on the 4th October to illustrate further growth of the crystals</p>

<p><img src="https://git.qoto.org/zleap/documents/-/raw/master/science/salt-2-4-10-2021.JPG" alt="one">
<img src="https://git.qoto.org/zleap/documents/-/raw/master/science/salt-4-10-2021.JPG" alt="two">
<img src="https://git.qoto.org/zleap/documents/-/raw/master/science/salt3-4-10-20221.JPG" alt="three"></p>

<p>It is probably worth mentioning that table salt contains Sodium Chloride but also a Anti caking agent called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_ferrocyanide" rel="nofollow">Sodium Ferrycyanide</a> which according to that wikipedia article is a yellow solid.</p>

<p>I am not sure if this somehow affects the growth or shape of the resultng crystals.   At some point I should try the same experiment pure NaCl</p>
<ul><li><a href="https://www.scienceforums.net/topic/126169-crystal-growing" rel="nofollow">Science forum discussion</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.scienceforums.net" rel="nofollow">Science Forums</a></li></ul>

<p><strong>Tags</strong></p>

<p><a href="/paulsutton/tag:Chemistry" class="hashtag" rel="nofollow"><span>#</span><span class="p-category">Chemistry</span></a>,<a href="/paulsutton/tag:Salt" class="hashtag" rel="nofollow"><span>#</span><span class="p-category">Salt</span></a>,<a href="/paulsutton/tag:SodiumChloride" class="hashtag" rel="nofollow"><span>#</span><span class="p-category">SodiumChloride</span></a>,<a href="/paulsutton/tag:NaCl" class="hashtag" rel="nofollow"><span>#</span><span class="p-category">NaCl</span></a>,<a href="/paulsutton/tag:Crystals" class="hashtag" rel="nofollow"><span>#</span><span class="p-category">Crystals</span></a></p>

<hr>

<p><table>
<thead>
<tr><td><a href="https://qoto.org/@zleap" rel="nofollow">Mastodon</a></td>
<td><a href="https://wiki.ircnow.org/?n=Shelllabs.Intro" rel="nofollow">ShellLabs</td>
<td><a href="https://joinmastodon.org/" rel="nofollow">Join Mastodon</a></td></tr></thead></table>

AI statement : <b> Consent is NOT granted to use the content of this blog for the purposes of AI training or similar activity.  Consent CANNOT be assumed, it has to be granted. </b>
</p>

<p><a href="https://liberapay.com/PaulSutton/donate" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Donate using Liberapay" src="https://liberapay.com/assets/widgets/donate.svg"></a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
      <guid>https://personaljournal.ca/paulsutton/growing-salt-crystals</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 04 Dec 2021 18:18:53 +0000</pubDate>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>