Thank you E4B for such Great questions.....Ray is going to answer those for you...He is the Science Guy😄
The experiment you did with us was very fun and interesting. When we looked at the string today we noticed that there were only crystals at the top of the string close to the popsicle stick. There were not any crystals in the water. The crystals were white. Some of us thought the crystals would be more clear or shiny. Some students tasted the crystals. They tasted salty, fishy, and like playdough. Our crystals looked like the crystals on the stick you showed us. We were wondering if the crystals would continue to form in the water if we left it longer? It should continue till on the water has evaporated... many of the crystals would be deposited on the side and bottom of the jar. We wondered if more crystals would form if we added more salt to the water? The crystals need a "seed" surface to start forming on - after the first layer they will just keep adding to the other crystals. (snowflakes start their crystalization around a small particle of dust or pollen) We wondered why the crystals needed the string in order to form? Why didn't the salt crystals attach to each other? As above the string just gives a surface for the first crystal. We are wondering if the string will form salt crystals now that it has been taken out of the solution? Once the string and attached crystals are taken out of the solution and dry all crystal formation stops. When you showed us the stick from your trip that was covered in salt, was it found underwater or above the water? As you can see in the above picture the sticks are right at the edge. Here the sun warms and evaporates the shallow water- increasing the salt concentration until it starts to crystalize onto the sticks. We think we may try this experiment again, but with sugar this time! Great idea- might want to cover the container to keep out dust etc..
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Thank you W3H! We loved visiting with you and we loved the book with the notes and pictures. Play fair and travel safe.😄
Ray and Diane |
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Ray & Diane
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