Making Crystals
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Here is my method of making water-soluble crystals. This method is slightly different from the instructions you normally see in crystal kits, but I have found out that it works quite well. I guarantee that you will get the same results as a regular crystal from a kit-or even better!

WARNING: THE CHEMICALS USED TO MAKE THE CRYSTALS ARE HARMFUL IF MISUSED. ADULT SUPERVISION IS REQUIRED WHEN HANDLING THE CHEMICALS. USE GOOD VENTILATION AND DO NOT CONSUME THE CHEMICALS AND AVOID CONTACT WITH THEM. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR HEALTH IF YOU DECIDE TO FOLLOW MY METHOD TO MAKE CRYSTALS. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK.

CRYSTAL MAKING SAFETY RULES
  1. NEVER consume any crystal(s), chemical(s) and solution(s). Do not eat or drink when handling them and DO NOT eat or drink when around them.
  2. AVOID contact with the crystal(s), chemical(s) and solution(s).
  3. ALWAYS wash your hands after handling the crystal(s), chemical(s), and solution(s). Make sure to wash other equipment (i.e. stirring rod, containers, etc.) that have come into contact with them.
  4. KEEP your work area clean and dust-free.
  5. READ the instructions and have everything ready and prepared.
  6. KEEP the crystal growing materials out of reach of small children and pets.
  7. Use safety goggles, protective clothing (i.e. plastic aprons) and gloves to protect yourself.
  8. COVER your working area with newspaper or a waterproof sheeting.
  9. Dispose the USED chemicals and solutions in a environmentally safe manner.
  10. If chemicals and/or solution accidentally come in contact with skin, wash the area with soap and water. If chemical dust is inhaled, seek fresh air immediately. If eye contact occurs, flush eyes with water for 15 minutes. Get medical help if irritation or symptoms occur. If any crystals, chemicals and/or solution are swallowed, immediately rinse your mouth with water or milk or drink several glasses of water or milk. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION OR CALL THE POISON CONTROL CENTER.



METEO'S CRYSTAL-MAKING METHOD
Materials:
  1. safety goggles
  2. plastic apron
  3. protective gloves (latex or plastic)
  4. newspaper or waterproof sheeting
  5. alum (I don't measure the amount I use, but 1 ounce will do)
  6. 2 glass or plastic jars (like preserve jars, peanut butter jars, baby food jars, etc.)
  7. boiled water (do not boil water in an aluminum pan)
  8. stirring rod (i.e. clean popsicle stick)
  9. thin transparent thread (like fishing thread, crafts thread. It is fine to use cotton thread, but the thread will be visible through the crystal.)
  10. a nail (use this to punch a hole on both the containers)
  11. tape
Procedure:
  1. Spread newspaper around your working area. Wear your goggles, apron, and gloves. Set container #1 on top of the newspaper. You will use container #2 tomorrow. Get everything ready and placed at an easy to reach distance.
  2. Pour enough boiled water to fill the container half-way.
  3. After you pour the water into container #1, pour in the alum and stir the mixture with your stirrer. Pour in as much alum as the water can dissolve (keep on pouring the alum until the alum can't dissolve in the water anymore). You ought to do this: pour some alum in, dissolve it, pour in some more alum, dissove it even more, etc. Do that until you can't dissolve the alum. This is called saturation. You want to saturate the water with the chemical, so when the water solution evaporates, the crystal will form.
  4. Make sure the solution is completely dissolved. Do not add anymore boiled water.
  5. Get the lid and position it on top of container #1. Place the lid on top of the container. Do not twist it shut. Don't even cap it. Just pretend that you are dropping the lid on container #1. The container will cloud up because of the lid, but don't attempt to do anything. This clouding is a good sign. Leave it alone.
  6. This is the most important thing of all. Put the container in a place where the room temperature remains the same. A bad place to put it is in the bathroom and kitchen. A changing environment temperature affects the growth of the crystal-it makes the crystal growing time longer.
  7. Leave it there overnight. When you wake up, you'll find a relatively large seedling. Fish the seedling out-do not throw away the solution! Dry the seedling and wash your hands immediately.
  8. Use the transparent string to tie the seedling. It may take a while, but after you are done tying it, use the other end (of the transparent string) and string it through the hole on the lid. You may use tape to tape the string to the lid (use tape on the side where the lid has pictures and writing).
  9. Pour the solution from container #1 into container #2. Don't pour in the bits of crystals that formed on container #1 into container #2. You want the solution to be only liquid.
  10. Get the lid with the crystal seedling and place it on container #2. Be sure that you don't screw it on. Leave some sort of air space. Place container #2 with the crystal seedling in a constant room temperature area. Leave it alone.
  11. On the next day, do the above process again, but switch the containers. You will repeat this process over and over again until you reach your desired crystal size.
  12. If you are running low on crystal solution, make a new batch-but let this new batch cool off. When the water of the new crystal solution is at room temperature, put your crystal in and continue the process of switching jars.











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