Crystals Can Grow    
                   Growing Alum Crystals
    

 

   

 
        My favorite material for growing crystals is alum.  This is my recommended
   material for teaching students because the chemical is safe (it is very bitter, so
   who would want to eat it?).  It grows nicely either by the evaporation method or
   by the supersaturated method and it produces nice crystals.  The chemical is
   relatively inexpensive.  It used to be commonly found in grocery stores by the
   canning supplies because it was used in making certain types of pickles.  More
   recently, I have found it in the spice section in the grocery stores.

          Ammonium alum is used as an astringent and as a septic pen for stopping
   bleeding when you cut yourself while shaving.
 

     The actual chemical name of alum is ammonium aluminum sulfate
               NH₄Al(SO₄)₂.12H₂0

   

        The name alum is also applied to other aluminum sulfates, potassium alum
   and chrome (chromium) alum.  Chrome alum produces dark purple crystals, but
   it can mixed with either ammonium alum or potassium alum to produce light
   purple colored crystals.  The dark purple crystals are unstable and eventually
   dry out and decompose.  The lighter colored mixtures are more stable.

   
    chrome alum mixed with ammonium alum to produce a purple crystal

        An interesting experiment would be grow a purple chrome alum crystal and
   then grow a clear, transparent coating of ammonium alum around it.  The two
   types of alum are compatible and produce the same shape of crystal.

   

   purple alum crystal surrounded by a clear alum crystal

 

     Chrome alum is poisonous, so be careful!

    Evaporation Technique

        The evaporation technique is a slow process, but it produces satisfying clear
   transparent sharp crystals.  This process consists of two parts: first growing
   seed crystals and then the main growing event.
 

        The first step is to produce some seed crystals.  If you are unsure of how much
   alum to make, make two separate batches.  Heat some water using an electric drip
   coffee maker (don't use any coffee). Using disposable plastic cups, place two
   heaping able spoons of powdered alum to the first cup and four heaping
   tablespoons of powdered alum to the second cup.  Add approximately 8 ounces
   of hot water to each cup, stir until all of the alum is dissolved.  Place cups were
   they will not be disturbed for at least one week.

   

   Cup #1 had two heaping tablespoons of Alum dissolved in 8 oz. of hot water.
   Cup #2 had four heaping teaspoons of alum dissolved in 8 oz. of hot water.
   The results shown are after 1 week of sitting and evaporating.


   

   Cup #1 produced some nice seed crystals. 
   The triangular shapes are the result of crystals lying on octahedral faces as
   they grew. The cup was turned over on a paper towel and the crystals were
   dried.


   

   Cup #2 had too much alum.
   The crystals grew too rapidly are were clouded and overgrown.
   Consequently, they were not used for seed crystals.


   
    alum seed crystals from cup #1, nice and clear


   
    overlapping seed crystals from cup #1. 
    The crystals need to be separated if you wish to grow a single nice crystal.


   
    There are still two individual intergrown alum crystals in this specimen.
    They need to be separated before being placed in a growing solution.


   
    Tie a thread lasso around a single alum crystal.


   
    Tie the other end of the thread around a popsicle stick.
    Yes, this was a used popsicle stick; why waste them?


   

         The saturated solution from cup#1 was poured into a new clean cup,
   so that no additional seed crystals would start to grow. The prepared
   seed crystal was then hung in the middle of the growing solution. 
   Place the solution where it can sit undisturbed and evaporate. The
   location should be fairly dust-free because dust can trigger the
   development of unwanted seed crystals.

 

    
   Seed crystal is now covered by clear alum after 1 week of evaporation.


   
    A clear octahedron of alum crystallized to an almost perfect octahedron form.
 

        Food dye can be added to growing solutions of alum in an attempt to add
   color to the crystals.  However, since crystallization is a purification process the
   growing alum crystals tend to reject the food dye unless the dye is highly
   concentrated.

        The following shows an attempt to add coloring to alum crystals by using
   food dye.

   
    too many seed crystals


   
    closer view


   

    The crystals of alum were distorted by growing so close together.

        Here is an ammonium alum crystal that started growth while  lying on an
   octahedral face.  The pink color is due to a small amount  of chrome alum
   added to the growing solution.

   

 
    copyright 2015-R.Weller

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