When children are born in a family, parents begin to realize how little they know about this world. Why does the tap peep? How does a plane fly? Why is the sun yellow? You will have to prepare answers to all these questions. But the young researcher will not stop there. He needs to see how exactly these or other processes occur. How ice freezes, how snowflakes form, how crystals grow. Satisfy the needs of the young know-it-all and make sugar crystals with it.
Chemistry in our house
If you already managed to show your child a standard volcano of soda, vinegar and gouache, and now you are looking for something to surprise him yet, then our article is especially for you. Miracles will begin to happen right next to you, and you won’t have to spend a lot of money for this. All that is needed is sugar, water and patience. Yes, sugar crystals do not grow in no time. This will take about two weeks. But every day they can be watched through the glass.
On a visit to Santa Claus
That is how one might call this adventure. Sugar crystals most closely resemble bizarre icicles. If it’s summer outside, and the children are missing winter miracles, then it’s time to invite them to create a delicious miracle together. Sugar crystals are very beautiful. Sparkling with many faces, they beckon the sweet tooth. And of course, they are very tasty.
And it’s not difficult to do them, but for a long time. Cooking will take about 20 minutes in the evening and the same in the morning. And then every day the children, overtaking each other, run around to watch how their crystals have grown. Invite them to keep a diary of observations, let them take pictures, take measurements. Feel like real testers.
No age limit
The older the child becomes, the more difficult he wants to do experiments. Therefore, edible snowflakes are interesting mainly to younger students. Give the older ones something more complicated, like experiments with bright blue crystals of copper sulfate. But usually they, grumbling a little, begin to observe with curiosity the growth of snowflakes. Preschool children are also happy to join the observations. But the most important thing is that even if a child accidentally breaks a jar, nothing bad will happen. Well, sugar crystals on a stick will not work.
By the way, if the first time did not work, then you should not despair. You can try again, because sugar syrup is still ready. In addition, it can be used to make jam.
What do you need?
If you are interested in how to make sugar crystals, then let's go directly to the consideration of the necessary products and equipment. For the first time, you can do 3-4 things. If the guys really like the idea, then it will be possible to repeat the sweet miracle in double size. So you need to cook:
- Sugar - 5 cups + 4 tablespoons.
- Water - 2 cups and 3 more tablespoons.
- Bamboo skewers - 4 pieces.
- Clear glasses.
- Pan for cooking syrup.
- Cardboard for fastening the skewers in a glass.
- Dyes as desired.
Preparatory stage
First of all, you need to prepare the ground for the growth of crystals. They do not cling to a smooth stick, you need a substrate. To do this, cook a little sugar syrup from just 2 tablespoons of sugar and 3 tablespoons of water. Stir until the grains dissolve, then carefully grease the skewers with syrup. Not completely, but only to the length over which the growth of the icicle will extend. Sprinkle two more tablespoons of sugar on a piece of paper and carefully roll our skewers in it. It is important that the grains stick evenly over the entire surface. They will be the basis on which crystals grow.
That's all, leave to dry until morning. This is also an important point, because if you immediately lower the sticks into the syrup, then the sugar adhering to them will melt immediately. And it should be preserved as a building bone.
Continue work
In the morning our sticks dried out well, you can continue to work. Therefore, rather write down how to grow sugar crystals.
- Pour water into a saucepan and set on fire.
- Pour half the sugar and, stirring, heat until dissolved.
- Now it's time for the rest of the sugar. And also do not forget to stir until completely dissolved.
Saturated syrup is ready. Let it stand for about 15 minutes and cool slightly. Students can learn sugar crystal recipes, there is nothing complicated. In the meantime, you need to prepare skewers, on which magic icicles will grow. To do this, cut out pieces of cardboard that are slightly larger in diameter than prepared glasses. Prepared skewers must be inserted into these pieces.
What are these cartons for? They have two tasks. They do not allow future crystals to come into contact with the walls and bottom of the glass and grow to them, and also protect the solution from dust. And the final touch. You need to pour hot syrup into the glasses and place the skewers in them.
Dyes and Flavors
Sugar crystals made at home can be different. Take cherry syrup from homemade compote instead of water - and the taste will be completely different. But then you will not be able to observe the growth of crystals through the walls of the glass. Of course, they can be raised above the surface and lowered back.
But most often a small amount of food coloring is used. It must first be dissolved in water. A glass will need powder on the tip of a knife. Dissolve this amount in a tablespoon of water, then mix with syrup. But when dye is added, the solution turns out to be less saturated and the crystals grow a little smaller. Of course, this is not critical, but many agree that transparent icicles are the most interesting.
Observation
Everything, nothing more is required of you. Just check how the growth is going. Believe me, this is very interesting. The very next day you can see that everything turns out. The first days are better to observe and photograph through the glass. But after a week, you can calmly raise the stick, consider the emerging faces and lower it back into the solution. For the crystal to turn out spectacular, it will take at least 14 days. Now you can get your personal crystals, the fruits of labor and many days of expectations. Take a picture, after which you can eat them like ordinary candies, which they are. Children claim that they turn out much tastier than store sucking sweets. This is not surprising, because they themselves created this miracle.
If the result is not visible
This is periodically encountered by people who are trying to grow icicles for the first time. The syrup is filled, the skewers are immersed, but nothing grows on them. And usually after a week of painful expectations, the syrup goes to something else, and the idea is considered failed. It is actually possible that the room is just cool. Under such conditions, the crystal will grow very slowly, but at the same time stunning, cubic faces are formed.
Temperature differences can also affect growth. Try to keep them to a minimum. And another very common mistake, when skewers are dipped in syrup, it should be slightly warm. Not cold, but not hot either. These points need to be taken into account so that everything works out just perfectly for you. Surprisingly, adults make such sweets for children, but they themselves usually rush in the morning to check the contents of glasses even faster than children. That is, the activity is very exciting. And for the New Year holidays, you can make such crystals for all family members. Original DIY gift.
Instead of a conclusion
Today we reviewed a recipe for sugar crystals on a stick. Amazing and magical, they will form before your eyes. Of course, this is just candy, but the process of its manufacture will be an excellent option for the joint leisure of children and adults. Alternatively, you can try to prepare a salt crystal. The principle is exactly the same. The only difference is that you can’t eat it later. The salt crystal grows a little faster, it turns out to be peculiar, more voluminous, but very fragile. Therefore, it will not be possible to preserve it for memory. But to observe the construction process is quite possible.