How to make Chemical Garden? (No copy paste plz)
Answers
Equipment:
Eye protection
Large glass jar with lid (e.g. an empty, cleaned coffee jar)
Glass rod
Forceps
Chemicals:
Water glass (about 250 cm3) (Irritant solution)
Water best to use deionised water but if unavailable tap water will give some effects (about 300 cm3)
2 large crystals of the following (see hazard warnings)
iron (II) sulfate (Harmful & irritant)
copper (II) sulfate (Harmful & irritant)
calcium nitrate (Oxidising, harmful & Irritant)
manganese (II) sulfate (Specific target Organ Toxin on Repeated Exposure & Dangerous for the Environment)
iron aluminium sulfate (Irritant)
potassium aluminium sulfate (Low hazard)
iron (III) chloride (Harmful / Corrosive)
zinc sulfate (Harmful, Eye Damage & Dangerous for the Environment)
nickel sulfate (Harmful, Irritant Carcinogen, Mutagen, Reproductive Toxin, Skin sensitiser, Respiratory sensitiser, Specific target Organ Toxin on Repeated Exposure & dangerous for the Environment)
cobalt chloride (Harmful, Carcinogen, Mutagen, Reproductive Toxin, Skin sensitiser, Respiratory sensitiser, Dangerous for the Environment)
Technical Notes:
Provide a 8% solution of sodium silicate in water. This works well by producing results both within the lesson and over time. With older students different dilutions could be tried and the results compared
Powders of the chemicals can be used if crystals are unavailable. The powder can be carefully dropped against the side of the jar just above the water line. If any floats on the surface it can be nudged under the water to drop to the bottom of the jar. The powders still produce an interesting array of crystal tendrils.
Label the jar of water glass solution IRRITANT.
Avoid using glass beakers for this practical if you can because the chemicals will be very difficult to clean off the glassware afterwards.
Although many of these chemicals are damaging to the environment, the amounts used are so small as to be not significant. The solution can be washed to waste in the foul water drain with copious quantities of cold water.
Results:
A strong water glass solution will grow a crystal formation more quickly than a weak one.
Crystals of chemicals will produce further growths of crystals on the original one over time, chemical powders grow tendrils.
Although cobalt chloride and nickel sulphate produce colourful crystals (magenta/purple and green/blue respectively) a very good and colourful chemical garden can be created with the less toxic chemicals.
The chemical garden chemicals will produce the following colours of crystals (excluding those mentioned above): green, blue, white, orange/brown, brown.
Taking the work further:
Students could experiment with different strength solutions of sodium silicate.
Sodium silicate solution is highly alkaline and therefore it may be best for younger students to only test dilutions of the solution that have already been provided for them.
Holå mate❤
__________________⏬
✏ANSWER✍
✨✨Heat the water slightly, as this will help the chemicals you are adding dissolve into the water. Add 32 grams of sodium hydroxide and mix until thoroughly combined. Then add 48 grams (1.7 oz) of crushed silica gel beads to the solution and stir until combined..✨✨
✌hope it's help you✌