During this lab we made crystals using epsom salt and water. We mixed the salt into the water in a beaker while it was on a hot plate. When the solution is warmed up the salt dissolves quicker. I think as the water heats up the salt gets dissolved into the water. Then as the solution cools down the molecules are rearranged to form crystals. So the salt is taking a new shape.
At the end of this lab, it worked. But it did take us two tries. A day after we did the experiment, we looked at our solution and there were no crystals. We came to the conclusion that there was not enough salt in the water for it to crystalize. So the next day, we put the beaker with the crystal solution back onto the hot plate. Once it warmed up we dumped some of the solution into the drain and added more salt. We added about half as the much of the epsom salt into the solution. After the solution was completely dissolved we left it on the heat for a few minutes to let some of the water evaporate. Then, we put it back into the fumehood,(after labelling it) and let the solution sit overnight. When we came back the next morning we saw that our beaker was filled with epsom salt crystals. Our experiment turned out to be a success.
The crystals appeared to be very small and thin. At the bottom of the beaker they were a whiter color and a different shape than the ones on top. Some of the crystals were dyed blue from the blue dye, but the crystals on the bottom were.
Materials used:
-2 different beakers
-Water
-Epsom Salt
-Blue food coloring dye
-Hot Plate
-Thermometer
-Parafilm
-Spoon
-Glass Stir-rod
During this lab I worked with Genevie. Overall, I thought we worked well together. We demonstrate safe practice and did not do anything that was dangerous. We stayed on task the whole and took turns when doing different things.
If I could re-do this lab I would better measure out how much water and salt I put in the solution. The first time there was not enough salt and we added more salt the second time. We should have done a bit more research on exactly the ration from salt to water we needed, as well as recorded how much we used.
At the end of this lab, it worked. But it did take us two tries. A day after we did the experiment, we looked at our solution and there were no crystals. We came to the conclusion that there was not enough salt in the water for it to crystalize. So the next day, we put the beaker with the crystal solution back onto the hot plate. Once it warmed up we dumped some of the solution into the drain and added more salt. We added about half as the much of the epsom salt into the solution. After the solution was completely dissolved we left it on the heat for a few minutes to let some of the water evaporate. Then, we put it back into the fumehood,(after labelling it) and let the solution sit overnight. When we came back the next morning we saw that our beaker was filled with epsom salt crystals. Our experiment turned out to be a success.
The crystals appeared to be very small and thin. At the bottom of the beaker they were a whiter color and a different shape than the ones on top. Some of the crystals were dyed blue from the blue dye, but the crystals on the bottom were.
Materials used:
-2 different beakers
-Water
-Epsom Salt
-Blue food coloring dye
-Hot Plate
-Thermometer
-Parafilm
-Spoon
-Glass Stir-rod
During this lab I worked with Genevie. Overall, I thought we worked well together. We demonstrate safe practice and did not do anything that was dangerous. We stayed on task the whole and took turns when doing different things.
If I could re-do this lab I would better measure out how much water and salt I put in the solution. The first time there was not enough salt and we added more salt the second time. We should have done a bit more research on exactly the ration from salt to water we needed, as well as recorded how much we used.