======Growing Alum Crystals======


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**Alternative titles:** Potassium Alum Crystals
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Dissolve 90 g of potassium alum powder in 500 mL of hot water, stirring until all the alum is dissolved.  
  - Filter the solution through a coffee filter or tissue paper to remove impurities and allow it to cool to room temperature.  
  - Sprinkle a few grains of alum powder into the cooled solution and leave it undisturbed for 2 days. Small seed crystals will begin to form.  
  - After 2 days, pour about 50 mL of the solution into a shallow dish and the remainder into a transparent jar, leaving any crystals behind.  
  - Let crystals form in the dish for several days until they reach about 0.5 cm in size. Choose the clearest and best-formed crystal as your seed crystal.  
  - Tie the seed crystal with fishing line (or suspend it from a stick) so that it hangs in the jar of remaining solution without touching the sides or bottom.  
  - Place the jar in a stable, dust-free environment and allow the crystal to grow as water slowly evaporates.  
  - Once the crystal reaches the desired size or the water level nears the crystal, remove and dry it gently with tissue paper.  
  - To preserve clarity, coat the dried crystal in clear nail polish or store it in an airtight container with alum powder.



====Links==== 
Growing Alum Crystals - UnitedArtAndEd: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39BPnWsawxI\\

How to grow Alum crystals! - Huge alum crystals diy in supersaturated solution. - DestructiveCreativity: 
{{youtube>0HkspTkpoLc?}}\\

📄 The Best Way to Grow Alum Crystals at Home - Crystalverse: [[https://crystalverse.com/grow-alum-crystals-at-home/]]\\


====Variations====
  * Grow crystals on objects such as rocks, shells, or sculptures by immersing them in a supersaturated alum solution to coat them with small crystals.  
  * Mix in food coloring to tint the crystals (results will be light since crystals exclude most dye).  
  * Experiment with different types of alum (e.g., ammonium or chrome alum) to produce crystals of different colors and shapes.  
  * Grow multiple small crystals instead of one large one by allowing the solution to cool and evaporate faster.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Use hot water carefully to avoid burns.  
  * Do not ingest alum or the crystal solution.  
  * Use only glass, plastic, or stainless steel containers; avoid reactive metals.  
  * Keep the setup in a stable place where it will not be knocked over.  
  * Store finished crystals out of reach of small children or pets.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Why do alum crystals form as the solution cools and evaporates? (Because the solution becomes supersaturated and the alum particles arrange into a solid lattice.)  
  * Why should the best seed crystal be selected for further growth? (A well-formed seed produces a clearer, more symmetrical final crystal.)  
  * What happens if the crystal becomes exposed to air before removing it from the solution? (Its surface becomes dull and rough as it dries unevenly.)  
  * Why might crystals turn white over time? (They lose water molecules from their structure and dehydrate.)  
  * How does coating the crystal in nail polish help preserve it? (It seals out air and moisture, preventing dehydration and surface damage.)  
  * What could cause the crystal to dissolve after growing? (A rise in temperature or a decrease in solution concentration reduces saturation, causing the crystal to redissolve.)