How often do you get to do a science experiment and get candy out of it?You can by making your own rock sugar. It’s not difficult, but younger kids will need help from an adult since the experiment involves using hot water. The sugar crystals will need some time to grow, so you’ll have to wait up to one week before the rock candy is ready.
Materials:
· A wooden chopstick (a real one, not one of those takeaway chopsticks)or skewer
· A clothespin
· 1 cup of hot water
· 2-3 cups of sugar
· A tall, narrow glass or jar
· Food coloring (optional)
1. Clip the chopstick to the clothespin and let it hang down straight in the middle of the glass so that it is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the bottom.
2. Remove the chopstick from the glass and set it aside for later.
3. With help from a grownup, pour a cup of water into a pan and bring it to a boil.
4. Add ¼ cup of sugar into the water and stir until it dissolves.
5. If you want, add some food coloring.
6. Keep stirring and slowly addmore sugar until you get to a point whereitwon’t dissolveany further.
7. Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool for 20 minutes.
8. Again,a grownup should help pour the solution into the glass, filling it almost to the top. Then, put the chopstick back in while making sure itdoesn’t touch the sides.
9. Let the glass fully cool down.
10. Lastly, wait seven days for the crystals to fully grow onto the chopstick.
How does it work?
Mixing water with sugar creates a super-saturated solution. The water can only hold that much sugar if the water temperature is very high. Whenit cools down, the water molecules separate from the sugar molecules, which means that the sugar “comes out” and starts growing sugar crystals on the chopstick as a result.
Adapted from Make your Own Rock Candy
