Growing Alum Crystals

Potassium alum powder is dissolved in hot water to form a saturated solution that produces clear, diamond-shaped crystals as the solution cools and evaporates. By carefully selecting and growing a seed crystal, you can form large, pure alum crystals within one to two weeks.

1. Dissolve 90 g of potassium alum powder in 500 mL of hot water, stirring until all the alum is dissolved.
2. Filter the solution through a coffee filter or tissue paper to remove impurities and allow it to cool to room temperature.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Place the jar in a stable, dust-free environment and allow the crystal to grow as water slowly evaporates.
8. Once the crystal reaches the desired size or the water level nears the crystal, remove and dry it gently with tissue paper.
9. To preserve clarity, coat the dried crystal in clear nail polish or store it in an airtight container with alum powder.

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

How to grow Alum crystals! - Huge alum crystals diy in supersaturated solution. - DestructiveCreativity:

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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.)