Rock Candy: Sweet Science
Easy
Welcome to the sweet world of science! In this experiment, you'll make your own rock candy and discover the secrets behind sugar crystallization.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that if sugar water is left to evaporate, sugar crystals will form on a string or stick, creating a rock candy treat.
Method & Materials
You will heat up sugar and water in a saucepan, dissolve the sugar, and let it cool. Then, you will tie a string to a weight, dip it in the sugar water, and let it dry for a few days to form sugar crystal seeds. Once the string is dry, you'll hang it in the sugar water and wait for sugar crystals to form on it, about 7 days.
You will need sugar, water, a saucepan, a wooden spoon, a candy thermometer, a glass jar, cotton string, a weight, waxed paper, and a pencil.
Results
In conclusion, making rock candy can teach us about the amazing world of crystallization. To grow crystals on a string, you first need to soak and dry the string to create small seed crystals for larger ones to form around. Two methods contribute to crystal growth: precipitation and evaporation. Precipitation happens when a supersaturated solution becomes unstable and sugar forms a precipitate, while evaporation occurs as water slowly evaporates from the solution and sugar molecules collect on the seed crystals, eventually forming large sugar crystals.
Why do this project?
This science project is interesting because it combines the fun of making candy with the educational experience of learning about crystallization.
Also Consider
Try adding food coloring or flavoring to your sugar water before making the rock candy, or using different types of sugar (such as brown sugar or powdered sugar) to see how they affect the crystal growth.
Full project details
You can find additional information and details for this science fair project here. Have fun exploring!Related video
Hey there! Here are some awesome videos about this science project that we think you'll really like. They're not only super fun, but they'll also help you learn more about the science behind the project. So sit back, relax, and get ready to have some fun!!
Did you know that you can make rock candy by rolling a chopstick in sugar, which is a simpler way to make the seed crystals compared to our experiment? Learn what dissolve, solution and crystallization means!
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