Science experiments for children – Crystal egg geodes. Experiment suitable for primary school children.
Science experiments for children – Crystal egg geodes
first procedure
What do you need?
Egg shells emptied and washed,
alum powder (aluminum sulfate and potassium dodecahydrate),
white glue,
food coloring,
boiling water
Science experiments for children – Crystal egg geodes
What to do?
After emptying and washing the eggs (the internal membrane must be removed), cut them in half lengthwise with small scissors. The interior of the shell must be clean and dry.
With a small brush applied a layer of glue inside the shell and along the edge and sprinkle with the alum powder. Let it dry.
Prepare the supersaturated solution, mixing alum and boiling water.
Pour the solution into various glass jars, adding in each one a different food coloring, and then put in the egg shell, which will wrap on the bottom of the jar with the opening facing upwards.
Place the jars in a safe place, where they can not be touched and let stand for about 15 hours.
Remove the geode from the jar very gently because the wet crystals are very fragile. Let them dry completely before touching them.
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Science experiments for children – Crystal egg geodes
second procedure
What do you need?
Eggshells clean and dry,
boiling water,
food coloring,
cups of coffee or tea,
various substances such as salt, sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar, borax, Epsom salts, etc. …
Science experiments for children – Crystal egg geodes
What to do?
Cut an opening in the narrow part of the egg shells, rinse well with warm water to remove the inner membrane and allow to dry thoroughly.
Put the shells in egg cartons, so they can stand firm with the opening facing up.
Bring water to a boil, fill a cup of tea or coffee at a time and gradually prepare the various solutions ipersature using the various powders (and the various colorants). Every time a solution is ready, pour into an eggshell until completely full.
Put the shells in a safe, dry place to allow water to evaporate. It may take several days because the crystals are formed.
With older children observations on different crystal growth can be recorded on tables along with various “recipes”.
http://www.sciencebob.com/
Science experiments for children – Crystal egg geodes
What happens?
The dissolution of the crystals in hot water creates a supersaturated solution. This means that the salts have taken advantage of the energy of the hot water to melt until there was no more space between the molecules in the solution.
But when the solution cools, the water loses its energy and the crystals are forced to exit from the solution and become solid again. Since this occurs slowly with evaporation, the crystals have time to grow faster.
The natural geodes are formed in much the same way, for the infiltration of water rich in minerals within air pockets in rocks.
Science experiments for children – Crystal egg geodes
Other links
http://www.magicaldaydream.com/2014/03/how-to-make-crystal-egg-geodes-or-diamonds-in-a-lid.html
http://www.hometrainingtools.com/a/egg-crystal-geodes
http://thehappyscientist.com/science-experiment/egg-geodes
