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Salt Crystals-Science behind the Magic

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Charles F. Davidson and Michael R. Slabaugh

Department of Chemistry, Weber State University, Ogden, UT 84408-2503

J. Chem. Educ., 2003, 80 (2), p 155

DOI: 10.1021/ed080p155

Publication Date (Web): February 1, 2003

Abstract

Salt or sodium chloride occurs naturally as cubic crystals. However, both flake and dendritic forms of salt are known. Dendritic salt is formed by the evaporation of brines that contain small amounts (5 ppm) of ferrocyanide ions. Because of its low bulk density and high surface area, dendritic salt is used to prevent clumping of cubic sodium chloride or when rapid dissolution or even mixing with other ingredients is needed. The ever-popular homegrown "magic crystal garden" relies on the formation of dendritic sodium chloride crystals. The common household chemicals aqueous ammonia, bluing, and table salt are used for this experiment. Bluing, a whitening agent used in the laundry, contains a colloidal dispersion of solid Fe₄[Fe(CN)₆]₃•xH₂O. Small amounts of soluble ferrocyanide are formed in the bluing–ammonia solution that supplies the ferrocyanide ion needed for dendritic salt formation.

Keywords (Audience):

Elementary / Middle School Science

Keywords (Domain):

Inorganic Chemistry

Keywords (Subject):

Consumer Chemistry

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This article has been cited by 1 ACS Journal articles (1 most recent appear below).

Ion-Induced Nucleation in Solution: Promotion of Solute Nucleation in Charged Levitated Droplets
Neil D. Draper, Samuel F. Bakhoum, Allen E. Haddrell, and George R. Agnes
Journal of the American Chemical Society2007 129 (37), 11364-11377
- Ion-Induced Nucleation in Solution: Promotion of Solute Nucleation in Charged Levitated Droplets
  Neil D. Draper, Samuel F. Bakhoum, Allen E. Haddrell, and George R. Agnes
  Journal of the American Chemical Society2007 129 (37), 11364-11377
  We have investigated the nucleation and growth of sodium chloride in both single quiescent charged droplets and charged droplet populations that were levitated in an electrodynamic levitation trap (EDLT). In both cases, the magnitude of a droplet's net ...
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