| MadSci Network: Chemistry |
Dear Logan,
I have found what looks like a good stalactite recipe for you. Be aware that I have not tried this recipe but it comes from folks that specialize in this kind of stuff (see below). There are many websites with instructions on how to grow your own crystals at home with common household goods. I commend you on not breaking down and buying one of those "kits" - they cost more and use the same ingredients!
The recipe is directly from the Rockhounding Arkansas website ( http://rockhound ingar.com/pebblepups/growcryst.html )
Have fun with the crystals!! Diane Hanley
What you will need: 2 empty pint jars to hold the solutions
a strip of absorbent cloth like an old towel, about one inch wide and 18 inches long, this will act like a wick
measuring cup and spoon
hot water
tray, or cookie sheet to catch the many drips
10 tablespoons of washing soda (sodium carbonate), it can be found in larger grocery stores in the laundry soap section
Do this: Wash and rinse the jars with hot tap water. Pour one and a half cups of hot water into each jar. Add 5 tablespoons of washing soda to each jar, and stir until the soda is dissolved. Put the towel strip in between the two jars as shown. The towel will begin to drip. Your "formations" will begin to grow, and if you are patient, they will meet and form a column. There is a lot of dripping, put this experiment in a place where it won't cause a mess.
The column on the right formed rather quickly when the room temperature was warm and dry. Setting the experiment by the wood stove made it grow faster. The stalactite grew fast when the water level got down almost to the level equal to the bottom of the sag of the towel strip. When it dripped fast at first, all the solution dried on the bottom of the pan. After the solution got below the level of the center of the towel, the strip of fabric got very stiff, and crystals began growing in the jars. The solution needed more water. When I added more water, the towel began to drip again, and quickly dissolved my column!
Another way to form a stalactite is to use a dropper, and put one drop of solution at a time on a saturated wick. Let it dry, and next time you pass by, add one or two more drops, just until it almost drips again. The object is to create a hanging drop of solution, which will dry and form the stalactite. Repeated applications will grow the formation.
Chemistry note: Baking soda (that you put in cakes and cookies) is sodium bicarbonate. Washing soda is slippery, soapy sodium carbonate. Lye or caustic soda is sodium hydroxide. Stay away from the ly
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