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How to Make Crystals With Charcoal

Growing crystals on charcoal is the perfect way to keep children entertained for weeks. They love watching the progress from when the crystals begin to grow to when they are fully formed many weeks later. The porous surface of charcoal is ideal for crystals to latch onto. The items needed to perform this experiment are inexpensive and readily available at almost all supermarkets.

Things You'll Need

Charcoal briquettes
Glass pie plate
Water
Spray bottle
Ammonia
Bluing
Non-iodized salt
Jar

Instructions

- 1
  Break the charcoal into one-inch chunks. Try to break each briquette into three equal pieces.
- 2
  Put the charcoal pieces in a glass pie plate. You need just enough charcoal to cover the bottom of the plate.
- 3
  Fill a spray bottle with water. Spray the charcoal pieces with water until they are completely damp. Pour out any excess water.
- 4
  Mix four tbsp. of bluing, four tbsp. of non-iodized salt and one tbsp. of ammonia in a glass jar. Put the lid on the jar and shake it up until the salt dissolves. Pour the mixture over the damp charcoal.
- 5
  Put a tablespoon of water in the jar and swirl it around to pick up any leftover chemicals that may be on the sides. Pour the contents of the jar on the charcoal.
- 6
  Hide the pie plate in a spot where it will not be disturbed. A slight disturbance is enough to damage the crystal structure.
- 7
  Mix two tbsp. of bluing, two tbsp. of non-iodized salt and two tbsp. of ammonia on the second day. Pour the mixture over the charcoal. Repeat this on the third day as well.
- 8
  Let the charcoal sit until crystals form. It can take anywhere from two days to two weeks.

Rocks & Minerals