Tag Archives: Growing crystals

What is Washing Soda / Soda Crystals and what is it used for ?

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WHAT IS WASHING SODA / SODA CRYSTALS

Washing soda (soda crystals) is an alkaline chemical compound which can be used to remove stubborn stains from laundry. It also has numerous uses around the house, and it is used in a range of industrial applications as well. Washing soda should not be confused with washing powder, which is a powdered soap used as a detergent.

The chemical formula for washing soda is Na2CO3.10H2O , and it is also known as sodium carbonate decahydrate. It is soluble in water and decomposes when heated to around 34C.


  • Synonyms: sodium carbonate decahydrate; hydrated soda ash; carbonic acid disodium;
  • CAS NO: 6132–02–1
  • EINECS NO: 207–838–8
  • Formula: Na2CO3 10H2O
  • Molar Mass: 286.14
  • Density: 1.46
  • Sodium carbonate decahydrate: 99.5% min
  • Sodium carbonate: 37% max
  • Water of crystallization: 64% max
  • Iron as Fe: <10mg/Kg
  • Melting point: 32.5–34.5 C  (Decomposes)

Where to Buy sodium carbonate decahydrate / washing soda

In laundry, washing soda accomplishes several things. The high alkalinity of washing soda helps it act as a solvent to remove a range of stains, and unlike bleach, washing soda does not usually stain. It is also used in detergent mixtures to treat hard water; the washing soda binds to the minerals which make water hard, allowing detergent to foam properly so that clothing will come out clean, without any residue. Sodium carbonate is also used by some textile artists, since it helps dyes adhere to fabric, resulting in deeper penetration and a longer lasting color.

Around the house, washing soda can be used to descale things like coffee machines and bathroom tiles which may accumulate mineral deposits as a result of exposure to hard water. It can also be used to strip floors of wax so that they can be refinished, and for other touch cleaning jobs like scrubbing the stove. However, you should wear gloves when cleaning with washing soda. Useful applications:

  • Use in laundry either on its own or mixed 50:50 with washing powder.
  • Super presoaker in laundry for ground-in stains.
  • General Cleaner for floors, walls and work tops
  • All purpose cleaner for Bathrooms
  • Stain remover for cups, crockery, chopping boards and cutlery
  • Descaler for coffee machines and other kitchen equipment.
  • Removes grease and carbon from ovens and grills
  • Excellent carpet cleaner, pre-spotter and stain remover (not for wool carpets)
  • Dissolves wine stains, tea and coffee stains and many others
  • Cleans outside surfaces – patios, driveways etc
  • Great for killing moss and algae.
  • Use to clean plastic garden furniture
  • Softens water by precipitating out the hardness (calcium carbonate)
  • Keeps drains and pipes free from grease and dirt.
  • Strips old polish off floors.
  • A safe non toxic paint stripper ………

……… and 1001 other uses.

Health & Safety

R-phrase(s): R36 Irritating to eyes.

S-phrase(s): S22 Do not breathe dust. S26 In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice.

See MSDS for Sodium carbonate decahydrate Washing Soda / Soda crystals above in documents section

NOTE: always use gloves when handling, Do not use on ALUMINIUM surfaces. Avoid using to clean polished furniture and floors as it will strip off the polish.

Where to Buy Sodium Carbonate granular online UK

Where to Buy Sodium carbonate / soda ash light online UK

Where to Buy Sodium Percarbonate

Where to Buy sodium carbonate decahydrate / washing soda

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How to grow Sodium Chloride Salt crystals

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Salt Crystal

Growing crystals is fun and very rewarding. It does take time and a lot of patience but the final results can be amazing.

The secret to quality crystals is working with clean equipment and good quality PDV Salt. The process involves using a saturated solution to firstly create a single seed crystal and then growing this seed crystal as large as you like.

Please note: As you will be working with hot water it is important that children are supervised at all times.

Ingredients needed to grow your own Salt crystals:

  • Water
  • Sodium Chloride salt
  • 2 clean jars
  • Fishing line
  • A pencil or stiff wire
  • Tablespoon
  • A cloth
  • Gloves

Instructions on how to grow Salt crystals:

Stage 1 – Producing a saturated solution.

  • Using gloves add salt to a jar containing water and stir until dissolved.
  • Keep adding more salt and mixing until no more will dissolve.
  • There should be some undissolved alum settled at the bottom of the jar.
  • Allow the jar to sit for an hour so that all undissolved solid settles to the bottom of the jar.
  • Carefully transfer only the liquid to a second clean jar and seal it for the next processes.

Stage 2 – Producing the seed crystal.

  • Pour some of the saturated solution into a clean jar.
  • Cover the jar with a cloth and place in a dark place (cupboard etc).
  • A few crystals should start forming at the bottom of the jar. (see notes)
  • Allow them  to continue to grow until they are large enough to handle easily.
  • Remove the crystals from the jar and keep dry for using in the next process.
  • Seed crystals that you wish to keep for later should be wrapped in tissue.

Stage 3 – Growing the large crystals.

  • Take the original jar of saturated salt solution.
  • Tie one of the seed crystals to a length of fishing line.
  • Tie the other end of the line to a pencil or some stiff wire.
  • Immerse the seed crystal into the jar making sure that it is not touching the sides or the base.
  • Place the pencil or wire across the top of the jar and fix in position with a bit of tape.
  • Cover the jar with a cloth and set aside to allow the crystal to grow.
  • Keep out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, radiators etc.
  • As the crystal grows the level of the saturated solution will drop.
  • you can top up the solution by making more of it (repeat stage 1) and adding carefully so as to avoid disturbing the growing crystal.
  • You can continue doing this for days, weeks, months or even years – it just depends on how big a crystal you want to grow.
  • When you are happy with the finished crystal remove it and store it somewhere dry.

Notes:

Salt is the short name for sodium chloride

For the cleanest crystals distilled water should be use instead of tap water .

It is very important that during all processes you keep the containers covered to prevent dust getting in which will spoil the crystals.

If during the seed growing process you notice that the complete surface of the base is covered in tiny crystals this means that the jar was not clean and you will need to start this process again.

Created by Mistral Pure Chemicals. View website

How to grow Alum crystals (Aluminium Potassium Sulphate)

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Growing crystals is fun and very rewarding. It does take time and a lot of patience but the final results can be amazing.

The secret to quality crystals is working with clean equipment and good quality Alum or Aluminium Potassium Sulphate. The process involves using a saturated solution to firstly create a single seed crystal and then growing this seed crystal as large as you like.

Please note: As you will be working with hot water it is important that children are supervised at all times.

Ingredients needed to grow your own Alum crystals:

  • Water
  • Aluminium potassium sulphate 12 water
  • 2 clean jars
  • Fishing line
  • A pencil or stiff wire
  • Tablespoon
  • A cloth
  • Gloves

Instructions on how to Alum crystals:

Stage 1 – Producing a saturated solution.

  • Using gloves add alum to a jar containing water and stir until dissolved.
  • Keep adding more alum and mixing until no more will dissolve.
  • There should be some undissolved alum settled at the bottom of the jar.
  • Allow the jar to sit for an hour so that all undissolved solid settles to the bottom of the jar.
  • Carefully transfer only the liquid to a second clean jar and seal it for the next processes.

Stage 2 – Producing the seed crystal.

  • Pour some of the saturated solution into a clean jar.
  • Cover the jar with a cloth and place in a dark place (cupboard etc).
  • A few crystal should start forming at the bottom of the jar. (see notes)
  • Allow them  to continue to grow until they are large enough to handle easily.
  • Remove the crystals from the jar and keep dry for using in the next process.
  • Seed crystals that you wish to keep for later should be wrapped in tissue.

Stage 3 – Growing the large crystals.

  • Take the original jar of saturated alum solution.
  • Tie one of the seed crystals to a length of fishing line.
  • Tie the other end of the line to a pencil or some stiff wire.
  • Immerse the seed crystal into the jar making sure that it is not touching the sides or the base.
  • Place the pencil or wire across the top of the jar and fix in position with a bit of tape.
  • Cover the jar with a cloth and set aside to allow the crystal to grow.
  • Keep out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, radiators etc.
  • As the crystal grows the level of the saturated solution will drop.
  • you can top up the solution by making more of it (repeat stage 1) and adding carefully so as to avoid disturbing the growing crystal.
  • You can continue doing this for days, weeks, months or even years – it just depends on how big a crystal you want to grow.
  • When you are happy with the finished crystal remove it and store it somewhere dry.

Notes:

Alum is the short name for aluminium potassium sulphate dodecahydrate (12 water)

For the cleanest crystals distilled water should be use instead of tap water .

It is very important that during all processes you keep the containers covered to prevent dust getting in which will spoil the crystals.

If during the seed growing process you notice that the complete surface of the base is covered in tiny crystals this means that the jar was not clean and you will need to start this process again.

Where to buy quality Alum

How to grow copper sulphate crystals

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Growing crystals is fun and very rewarding. It does take time and a lot of patience but the final results can be amazing.

The secret to quality crystals is working with clean equipment and good quality copper sulphate. The process involves using a saturated solution to firstly create a single seed crystal and then growing this seed crystal as large as you like.

Please note: As you will be working with hot water it is important that children are supervised at all times.

Ingredients needed to grow your own copper sulphate crystals:

  • Water
  • copper sulphate
  • 2 clean jars
  • Fishing line
  • A pencil or stiff wire
  • Tablespoon
  • A cloth
  • Gloves

Instructions on how to copper sulphate crystals:

Stage 1 – Producing a saturated solution.

  • Using gloves add copper sulphate to a jar containing water and stir until dissolved.
  • Keep adding more copper sulphate and mixing until no more will dissolve.
  • There should be some undissolved copper sulfate settled at the bottom of the jar.
  • Allow the jar to sit for an hour so that all undissolved solid settles to the bottom of the jar.
  • Carefully transfer only the liquid to a second clean jar and seal it for the next processes.

Stage 2 – Producing the seed crystal.

  • Pour some of the saturated solution into a clean jar.
  • Cover the jar with a cloth and place in a dark place (cupboard etc).
  • A few crystal should start forming at the bottom of the jar. (see notes)
  • Allow them  to continue to grow until they are large enough to handle easily.
  • Remove the crystals from the jar and keep dry for using in the next process.
  • Seed crystals that you wish to keep for later should be wrapped in tissue.

Stage 3 – Growing the large crystals.

  • Take the original jar of saturated copper sulphate solution.
  • Tie one of the seed crystals to a length of fishing line.
  • Tie the other end of the line to a pencil or some stiff wire.
  • Immerse the seed crystal into the jar making sure that it is not touching the sides or the base.
  • Place the pencil or wire across the top of the jar and fix in position with a bit of tape.
  • Cover the jar with a cloth and set aside to allow the crystal to grow.
  • Keep out of direct sunlight and away from heaters, radiators etc.
  • As the crystal grows the level of the saturated solution will drop.
  • you can top up the solution by making more of it (repeat stage 1) and adding carefully so as to avoid disturbing the growing crystal.
  • You can continue doing this for days, weeks, months or even years – it just depends on how big a crystal you want to grow.
  • When you are happy with the finished crystal remove it and store it somewhere dry.

Notes:

For the cleanest crystals distilled water should be use instead of tap water .

It is very important that during all processes you keep the containers covered to prevent dust getting in which will spoil the crystals.

If during the seed growing process you notice that the complete surface of the base is covered in tiny crystals this means that the jar was not clean and you will need to start this process again.

Where to buy quality Copper Sulphate

How to grow borax crystal snowflakes and other shapes

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Making snowflakes, stars, reindeers, virtually any shape you like with borax is fun and easy to do. It is great for making your own decorations for christmas to hang on the christmas tree or around the house. Why not give to friends and family as presents.  How about giving your best friend their name in borax crystals.

Please note: As borax is dangerous if swallowed and you will be working with hot water it is important that children are supervised at all times.

Ingredients needed to make your own borax crystals:

  • Water
  • Borax decahydrate
  • Glass Jar or bowl
  • Pipe cleaners (white or coloured)
  • Blue Food colouring
  • A pencil
  • Tablespoon
  • string
  • Gloves

Where to buy Borax online UK

Instructions on how to make borax crystal shapes:

  • Firstly make the shape you want with the pipe cleaner (see notes below)
  • Tie some string to the pipe cleaner shape and at the other end attach the string to a pencil or other rod which is wider than the top of the jar or bowl.
  • Fill the jar or bowl with boiling water
  • Wearing gloves carefully add 1 tablespoon of borax powder and stir until dissolved.
  • Keep adding 1 tablespoon at a time and mixing until dissolved.
  • When no more borax will dissolve and some sits at the bottom then stop adding more.
  • Add a few  drops of  blue food colouring to colour if you wish and mix thoroughly.
  • Slowly drop the snowflake or other shape into the jar ensuring that it is fully immersed and does not touch the bottom.
  • Fix it in position with the pencil resting across the top of the jar.
  • Leave overnight and the crystals will grow on the surface of the pipe cleaners.
  • Hang the shapes using thread.

Notes:

For every cupful of water you will require approximately 3 tablespoons of Borax.

To make the snowflake take three equal lengths of pipe cleaners. Twist them together at the centre to form a six sided shape.

For more complicated shapes you can use templates like cookie cutters and simply bend the pipecleaners around the shape.

Borax crystals cannot be coloured although blue dye will add a blue hue to them.

Using coloured pipe cleaners will produce coloured shapes.

Where to buy borax

Where to buy boric acid powder