CRYSTAL ART

ACTIVITY 2
GENERAL CHEMISTRY 2

NAME: DULMAN, KIRSTEN C. DATE: JANUARY 27, 2023

GRADE & STRAND: 12 STEM-2 SCORE: _______________

I- Description
Mix different solid crystals in water, and then use the solutions to make fun designs on paper.

II- Objective
This lesson illustrates states of matter, classifications of matter, and changes between states of matter.
Students mix different substances in water, use the solutions to paint on paper, and watch as fun crystal
designs appear when the liquid vaporizes. The lesson can be extended to address the concepts of solubility
and saturation.

III- Materials
o Table salt o Epsom salt/Rock Salt o Sugar o Cotton swabs o Clear plastic cups
o Pen o Masking tape o Black construction paper o Teaspoon o Magnifying glass
(optional)

IV- Experimental Procedure

1. Divide a piece of black construction paper into three sections. Use masking tape and a pen to label
one section “salt,” a second section “sugar,” and the third section “Epsom salt.”
2. Take three clear plastic cups, and label them “salt,” “sugar,” and “Epsom salt.”
3. Fill a quarter of each cup with hot tap water and place each cup in its section on the black
construction paper.
4. Put one level teaspoon of table salt into the cup labeled “salt,” and stir with a spoon or swirl the cup
until the salt crystals dissolve (until you can’t see any or can only see very few crystals against the
black background). Add another teaspoon and stir or swirl until these crystals dissolve as well.
5. Repeat step 4, continuing to add teaspoons of salt, until the water cannot dissolve any more crystals
(when you still see crystals after stirring or swirling). Record the number of teaspoons used.
6. Repeat steps 4–5 using the sugar and then the Epsom salt. Record the number of teaspoons of
each type of crystal that dissolved in the water.
7. After each solution is made, dip a cotton swab in the table salt cup. Use the solution to write your
name or draw a design in the “salt” section on the black construction paper. Do the same with the other
two liquids using separate cotton swabs.
8. Allow the water to vaporize (15–30 minutes) and watch as the crystal designs appear.

V- Analysis & Conclusion

1. In the table below, record the number of teaspoons needed to completely saturate each solution.
Substance Table Salt Sugar Epsom Salt

(none po, even rock

Number of Teaspoons 4 teaspoon 7 teaspoon
salt po)

2. Which substance dissolves the most in water (Into which cup did you add the most teaspoons?)

The substance that dissolves the most in water is sugar, and also I add so much sugar to achieve the
solution.

3. Which substance dissolves the least in water?

The substance that dissolves the least in water is salt.

4. What happens when you first write or draw on the paper? Can you see the designs?

When I first draw on my paper, I don’t see any designs yet it dry quickly.

5. What happens after the liquid vaporizes? Can you see the designs?
When I let the paper absorb the water, later on I can see some white pigment in my paper and its like a
shape of crystal but in a small size.

Prepared by:
MR. FERNAN T. CANTERAS