Borax Crystallization: Creating Crystals

out of Home-based Products

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the
Science 10

By:

Aton, Maybelle Grace S.

Vaguchay, Rafael Angelo S.
Comprado, Elvie
Victoria, Iver U.

Grade X – Jose Rizal

February 4, 2018

APPROVED:

Ms. Paula Marie M. Llido

Adviser

ACCEPTED:

_____________________
Reader/ Panelist
 Acknowledgements
The researchers are extending their gratitude to themselves and especially to their
parents who are also contributing while in the process of creating on what's new. The effort
and time that was incorporated with this investigation dictates that nothing will be pursued
without the presence of the contributors and to the researchers themselves. The researchers
also wanted to thank Powerclean Cleaning Chemicals – Cagayan de Oro, and Shopee for
the help of finding and selling the prime ingredient of this investigation. The researchers are
also acknowledging Aton’s residence for holding the investigation and the experiment in the
place and Vaguchay, Victoria and Comprado’s resource materials (Citations, Websites, etc).

Without the help of these people, the researchers will never make this investigation possible
and successful. Excelsior!
 ABSTRACT

Chemists perform chemical reactions as a way to change one chemical, or substance,

into another. Chemical reactions are constantly happening all around you, and inside of you.
In this investigation, the researchers are trying to manipulate a chemical reaction that forms
crystals, called Crystallization. Crystals come in all different shapes and sizes. However, the
purest and cleanest crystals are usually also the ones that grow to be the largest in size. The
researchers will compare the size and shape of crystals grown in three different temperature
conditions: room temperature, in the refrigerator, and in an ice bath??? With just water and
borax, a household cleaning product, you can discover the best recrystallization method for
growing large, pure crystals. GOOD PARAGRAPH!

The process of crystallization between two temperatures are different. Room

temperatured Borax crystals are purer than the refrigerated ones. The researchers are
making a saturated solution with more powder than the liquid can hold. The hotter the
liquid, the more saturated the solution can become. This is because the molecules in
the water move farther apart allowing more of the powder to be dissolved. As the
solution cools down there is all of a sudden going to be more particles in the water as
the molecules move back together. Some of these particles will start to fall out of the
suspended state they were once in. The particles will start to settle on the rocks and
form crystals. This is called recrystallization. Once a tiny seed crystal is started, more
of the falling material bonds with it to form bigger crystals.SIMPLIFY!
DELETE! REPLACE BY BRIEF RECOMMENDATION INSTEAD Crystals are a solid
with flat sides and symmetrical shape and will always be that way (unless impurities get
in the way). They are made up of molecules and have a perfectly arranged and
repeating pattern. Some might be bigger or smaller though.

An abstract has 150 to 250 words only because it is a summary or a window of your
whole I.P. Choose wisely the words that you will put here. No need for a lot of
explanation, but if necessary make it simple and direct to the point.

PLEASE EDIT PROPER SPACING

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE …………………………………………………………...………………. i

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS …………….………………………………………………... ii

ABSTRACT …………….……………………………………………………………..…iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS …………….………………………………………………… iv

CHAPTER
I. INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study …………………………………….….............. 6

B. Statement of the Problem ……………………………………….............. 6

C. Significance of the Study ……………….……………………….............. 7

D. Scope and Limitation …………………………………………….............. 7

E. Definition of Terms ……………………………………………….............. 8

CHAPTER II …………………………………………………………...………………. 9

CHAPTER III …………………………………………………………...………………. 17

A. Preparing the Materials ………….………….…………………….............. 17

B. Procedure in Making ………….…………………………………………..... 17

C. Procedure in Testing ………….…………………………………………..... 18

D. Budget ………….…………………………………………………………..... 18

E. Activity Timeline ………….………………………………………………..... 19

CHAPTER IV …………………………………………………………...……………….20

CHAPTER V …………….………………………………………………...23

CHAPTER VI…………….……………………………………………………………25

BIBLIOGRAPHY …………….………………………………………………… 27

ALIGN THE PAGE NUMBERS!!!

 CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

Borax, also known as sodium borate, is a naturally occurring white mineral. It's used for

making glass and ceramics and as a cleaning product. The form of borax most people likely

come across at the store is a popular brand called 20 Mule Team Borax. Though borax is
known for its cleaning powers, it's also great for making crafts and conducting science

experiments.

Sometimes, chemical reactions form more than one product, though, and chemists

need a way to separate and remove the product they want from all of the other material. One

way they do this is with a process called recrystallization. The scientist dissolves the mixture

of products in hot water, and then lets the mixture cool. As the mixture cools, one product

slowly appears as crystals, which can then be removed from the rest of the liquid, which has

the other product. The scientist dissolves the mixture of products in hot water, and then lets

the mixture cool. As the mixture cools, one product slowly appears as crystals, which can then

be removed from the rest of the liquid, which has the other product. (Sciencebuddies, 2016)

Although the crystal lattice will form if the ionic bonds bonded together, the researchers

cannot create the bonafide of crystals because of the absence of chemicals to activate and

grow these types of crystals. But with alternatives, the researchers will create crystals using

Borax.

This research aims to produce Borax Crystals and differentiating them by how they are

produced or grow into different temperatures (Refrigerated, and Air Dryed). This is also

affordable than the real crystals that is rare or cannot be mined easily. Using the alternatives,

the researchers are in benefit in making the crystals in a cheap price.

With this, people can learn and differentiate the courses of how ionic bonds come

together to form such compounds like crystals, and can be also used in decorations or gifts

for your loved ones.

B. Statement of the Problem

 Generally, the research aims to create Crystals using inexpensive products and to

grow them into different temperatures. Concretely, the researchers are targeting to answer the

following questions:

a. How do you make a saturated solution?

b. Why does slower cooling result in purer crystals?

c. How do you think crystals with more impurities will look compared to crystals with fewer

impurities?

d. Is it possible to give color to the crystals?

C. Significance of The Study

The experiment allows the researchers to differentiate the growing crystals from the

corresponding and different temperatures in different areas. With this, it can grow different

forms of crystals depending on its solution. With home-based products, people can make and

create crystals and can be used as decorations and for gifts. It also educates the matter of

recrystallization and influences future researchers to create a substance that is sustainable

for future purposes and with low-end budget.

D. Hypothesis

The following are the hypothesis for each questions in the statement of the problem:

a. If the solution can be dissolved easily, then the crystals will be saturated.

b. If the temperature is different, then the crystals will grow accordingly to its specified

temperature.
c. If food coloring will be placed during the growing process, then the crystals will absorb

the color from the mixture.

d. If the solution is supersaturated, then purer crystals form.

E. Scope and Limitation

With the absence of pure chemicals, the researchers cannot grow crystals that are big

enough and it can only grow in the minimum of 5 hours. The researchers can only grow

crystals in jars and with approximate solution. Furthermore, the crystals are only made from

household materials and it is affordable for people especially for future researchers to buy

and use to create crystals.

F. Definition of Terms

Chemical reaction – a process that involves rearrangement of the molecular or ionic structure

of a substance, as opposed to a change in physical form or a nuclear reaction.

Recrystallization – technique used to purify chemicals.

Solubility – is the property of a solid, liquid or gaseous chemical substance called solute to

dissolve in a solid, liquid or gaseous solvent.

Solution – a liquid mixture in which the minor component (the solute) is uniformly distributed

within the major component.

Saturated solution – is a chemical solution containing the maximum concentration of a solute

dissolved in the solvent.

Supersaturated – is a state of a solution that contains more of the dissolve material than could

be dissolved by the solvent under normal circumstances.

Crystal – a solid material whose constituents are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic

structure, forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions.

Molecule – an electrically neutral group of two or more atoms held together by chemical

bonds.

Impurity – the quality or condition of being impure.

 CHAPTER II – REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

In relation to the problem, the study mainly focuses on the structure and the features

that are surrounding the platform of the borax crystal; its components and chemicals that are
actively impulsive. It contributes cheaper usage as it is mainly focusing on one primary

product, the borax itself.

Some materials can take any of the three forms, with no change in their chemical

composition. Steam, water, and ice are common names for the three forms taken by a single

material. Another familiar liquid, one of the most convenient to use in making thermometers, is

the metal mercury. It is a "liquid metal." But it will freeze to a solid metal at a low enough

temperature and then, as long as scientists keep it cold enough, it will behave much like the

more familiar solid metals. At a high enough temperature, mercury will vaporize to a gaseous

metal; it forms the gas in mercury-vapor lamps, for example.

In Alan Holden's book (Crystals and Crystal Growing, 1982), he stated that: “You

cannot make liquids and gases of all solids not even out of most of them. If you heat

gunpowder, it goes off with a bang, and you might say you have turned it into gas. But the

change of solid gunpowder into "gunpowder gas" is not the same kind of change as that of ice

into steam: you cannot get the gunpowder back by cooling the gas, as you can get ice by

cooling steam. The change in gunpowder is sometimes called a "chemical" change, and the

change in ice a "physical" change.”

Most books on crystallography, the subject that deals with the study of crystals,

emphasize the importance of symmetry in the classification of crystals. However, many of the

crystals that children can grow themselves, or find in nature, have shapes that do not exhibit

perfect symmetry, because the growing conditions were not the same all around the crystal. It

takes a mature imagination and experience with some perfectly symmetrical crystals to

imagine what such a crystal would have looked like if the growing conditions had been

uniform.
 Unless students can be convinced from their own observations that symmetry is really

useful in classifying crystals, there is no merit in having them memorize the symmetry terms,

since they have no meaning for them. The essence of science is observation and wonder,

curiosity and the effort to satisfy that curiosity. Learning what others have found out is part of

learning about science, but first we must see how scientists learn what they know about

nature so that we may be convinced on what is happening.

As told by Elizabeth A. Wood, 1972, “Young people learn best by doing, not by being

told. The best way for a child to learn about crystals is by experience, not by having someone

tell him about them. Let him observe and wonder and ask questions. Then perhaps you can

help him seek answers to them. We will not even try to define the word crystal until we have

had some experience with crystals. It is essential that you, the teacher, have these

experiences yourself so that you can enjoy the discoveries with your students.”

Based on the scientific study from IUCR Organization (2002), Over a period of time,

the students’ observations will probably lead them to conclusions such as the following:

1. Under suitable conditions some kinds of solid matter form in shapes called

crystals.

2. Crystals grow bigger by adding more layers of solid matter around their

outsides.

3. Crystals form from solution when the solvent evaporates. Crystals form from

the molten state when the liquid cools. Crystals form from warm invisible vapor when

that vapor meets a cooler surface.

4. Crystals of different substances have different forms.

 Crystallography, or, the study of crystals, is a key component of condensed matter

physics, a branch of physics which deals with the physical properties of condensed states of

matter where particles adhere to each other. Condensed matter physicists seek to understand

the behavior of these phases by using physical laws and properties. It is necessary to study

and experiment with crystal growth in order to produce samples which can yield valuable data

about different physical states. There are many techniques used for crystal growth, and this

project deals with growth from liquid solution of borax (sodium tetraborate).

A crystal of a given substance or material shows plane faces always at the same

angles to each other and has its other orderly properties because it is made up of atoms,

ions, or molecules arranged in a very orderly way. This orderliness of structure is found in

almost all solid matter, though some substances have a more orderly arrangement than

others. Even in wood the molecules are arranged in good order along the fibers, though there

is not much orderliness from one fiber to the next. Is wood, then, a crystal? It doesn’t show

shiny faces. Some crystallographers (people who study crystals) would say its fibers are

crystals; some would not. WHERE IS THE IN-TEXT CITATION OF THIS???

As a crystal grows, the pattern that makes it a certain shape will be repeated over

and over, so the crystal will always keep the same shape as it gets bigger. The chemical

elements that a crystal is made of are what tell the crystal what shape it will be. A crystal of

salt is a different shape than a crystal of sugar because they are both formed from different

elements. A lot of crystals might seem to look alike at first glance, but what elements the

crystal is made out of will make it a unique shape and color. Even the same element can

make different crystals, though, based on conditions such as temperature and light and what

other elements are around. For example, the graphite used inside of pencils is a kind of
crystal made from the element carbon, which is actually the same element that diamonds are

formed from. (Home Science Tools, 2017)

Many types of crystals are very beautiful to look at and are used to make jewelry.

Diamonds, sapphires, amethysts, and rubies are all types of crystals that are often used in

jewelry such as rings, earrings, and necklaces. Oftentimes the crystals will be cut into

“gemstones” to make a more smooth shape and to make them fit onto the jewelry.

Crystals from rocks called quartz are used inside of computers, radio transmitters and

receivers (the things that allow radios to send and pick up sound), and in watches. Energy

can flow through certain kinds of crystals so that they can make watches work to keep time

and radios pick up signals and send them to speakers so you can hear them.

LCDs (“liquid crystal display”) like television screens and computer monitors actually use a

certain type of crystal too – but it’s very different from most crystals because it is more like a

liquid than a solid! Even though it is a liquid, its molecules arrange themselves in a pattern,

just like they would in a solid crystal. That’s why it’s called liquid crystal. WHERE IS THE IN-

TEXT CITATION OF THIS???

A substance that is made up of crystals is called a crystalline substance. Sometimes

the word polycrystalline is used to indicate a substance made up of many crystals. In a single

crystal, the orderliness of rows of atoms is not interrupted and does not change direction.

When two crystals grow against each other, the boundary between them marks the place

where the orderly array of one makes an angle with the orderly array of the other (John

Papiewski, 2018 ).

In physical chemistry, saturation is the point at which the solute of a substance can

dissolve no more of that substance and additional amounts of it will appear as a separate
phase (as a precipitate, if solid, or as effervescence or inclusion, if gaseous). This point of

maximum concentration, the saturation point, depends on the temperature and pressure of

the solution as well as the chemical nature of the substances involved. This can be used in

the process of recrystallization to purify a chemical: it is dissolved to the point of saturation in

hot solvent, then as the solvent cools and the solubility decreases, excess solute precipitates.

Impurities, being present in much lower concentration, do not saturate the solvent and so

remain dissolved in the liquid. If a change in conditions (e.g. cooling) means that the

concentration is actually higher than the saturation point, the solution has become

supersaturated. WHERE IS THE IN-TEXT CITATION OF THIS???

Through this, Crystallization is one of the factors in creating crystals. Based on H.J.M.

Kramer, and G.M. van Rosmalen, in Encyclopedia of Separation Science (2000),

Crystallization from solution is a separation technique where a solid phase is separated from

a mother liquor. In contrast to other separation processes, however, the dispersed phase

consisting of numerous solid particles also forms the final product, that has to meet the

required product specifications.

Crystallization can thus also be seen as a technique to obtain solid products, where

the crystallization process has to be carefully controlled in order to meet the ever-increasing

demands of the customer on particle properties like particle size distribution, crystal shape,

degree of agglomeration, caking behaviour and purity. Since the particles must also be easily

separated from the mother liquor, additional demands on filterability and washability can be

formulated.

Because of the mostly rigid structure of the solid phase, the formation of solid particles

is a rather slow process, and to reach an acceptable production rate large vessels are

generally needed. This rigid structure on the other hand impedes the incorporation of foreign
substances or solvent molecules, and in only one separation step a pure solid product is

obtained.

Sanne J. C. Granneman (n.d) stated that, “The macroscopic regularity in the shapes

of ice crystals, snowflakes, crystalline salts, and gemstones suggests that crystals must

possess some sort of atomic-level regularity. This regularity is called a crystal lattice, and

every crystal is built upon one. A crystal lattice is a repeating, orderly arrangement of atoms,

molecules, and ions. The specific repeating pattern unique to each crystal lattice is called a

unit cell, the smallest repeating pattern that reflects the macroscopic shape of the crystal.

Sodium borate is an ionic compound. Sodium and borate ions are arranged into a regular

three-dimensional pattern resulting from a net balance of attractive and repulsive forces. This

arrangement forms an extended network, constructed by repeating the unit cell pattern over

and over again in all three dimensions and the crystal “grows.”

The types of chemical bonds formed between atoms or groups of atoms in crystals

depend on their size and electronegativity. There are four categories of crystals as grouped by

their bonding:

1. Covalent Crystals - Atoms in covalent crystals are linked by covalent bonds. Pure

nonmetals form covalent crystals (e.g., diamond) as do covalent compounds (e.g., zinc

sulfide).

2. Molecular Crystals - Entire molecules are bonded to each other in an organized

manner. A good example is a sugar crystal, which contains sucrose molecules.

3. Metallic Crystals - Metals often form metallic crystals, where some of the valence

electrons are free to move throughout the lattice. Iron, for example, can form different metallic

crystals.
4. Ionic Crystals - Electrostatic forces form ionic bonds. A classic example is a halite or

salt crystal.

Crystal Lattices

There are seven systems of crystal structures, which are also called lattices or space lattices:

1. Cubic or Isometric - This shape includes octahedrons and dodecahedrons as well as

cubes.

2. Tetragonal - These crystals form prisms and double pyramids. The structure is like a

cubic crystal, except one axis is longer than the other.

3. Orthorhombic - These are rhombic prisms and dipyramids that resemble tetragons but

without square cross-sections.

4. Hexagonal - Six-sided prisms with a hexagon cross section.

5. Trigonal - These crystals have a 3-fold axis.

6. Triclinic - Triclinic crystals tend not to be symmetrical.

7. Monoclinic - These crystals resemble skewed tetragonal shapes.

Lattices may have one lattice point per cell or more than one, yielding a total of 14

Bravais crystal lattice types. Bravais lattices, named for physicist and crystallographer

Auguste Bravais, describe the three-dimensional array made by a set of discrete point.

A substance may form more than one crystal lattice. For example, water can form

hexagonal ice (such as snowflakes), cubic ice, and rhombohedral ice. It can also form

amorphous ice. Carbon can form diamond (cubic lattice) and graphite (hexagonal lattice

Richard J. D. and Emeritus (1982) depicted that Seven types of unit cells occur in

nature—cubic, tetragonal, orthorhombic, monoclinic, triclinic, hexagonal and rhombohedral.

Several of these types of unit cells have variations. The base unit cell plus its variations make

up the unit cells for a given crystal system. The seven types of unit cells, their variations, and

associated crystal structures are illustrated in Figure 2. Although the unit cell for a particular

solid will always be uniform, variations in crystal shapes occur because the growing solution’s

concentration varies from one point to another around the crystal. If a particular face of the

crystal is surrounded by solution that is more concentrated, it will grow faster than other faces

which are surrounded by less concentrated solution. In addition, the different types of faces

have different inherent growth rates. The specific shape of the crystal that forms is determined

by the rates at which its various faces grow.

Other factors also affect crystal growth. One of the most important factors is the

temperature at which crystals are grown. A constant temperature is very important for

growing large crystals. If the temperature varies during crystal growth, the solubility of the

solute changes. If the solubility increases, then the crystals may begin to dissolve since the

solvent can now accept more solute in solution. Another factor affecting the quality and size

of crystals is the rate at which they are grown. Slow growth results in larger quality crystals. If

crystals are grown too fast—for example, if the solutions are cooled too quickly after heating

—the crystals will be smaller and cloudy in appearance. Crystals also need room to grow and

may be smaller or overlap if there is a limited area for growth. (Borax Snow Crystals,

Indiana Alliance of Chemistry Teachers, 2009)

In order to grow a crystal, you need to make a solution which maximizes the chances

for the solute particles to come together and form a nucleus, which will grow into your crystal.

This means you will want a concentrated solution with as much solute as you can dissolve

(saturated solution). Sometimes nucleation can occur simply through the interactions between

the solute particles in the solution (called unassisted nucleation), but sometimes it's better to
provide a sort of meeting place for solute particles to aggregate (assisted nucleation). A rough

surface tends to be more attractive for nucleation than a smooth surface. As an example, a

crystal is more likely to start forming on a rough piece of string than on the smooth side of a

glass. (Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D, 2017)

Dans Le Lakehouse (2015) created Crystals using borax. Borax, also known as

sodium borate, is an important boron compound, a mineral, and a salt of boric acid.

Powdered borax is white, consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water.

Borax solution was made at differing strengths according to molarity, using stoichiometric

calculations, (Randolph, et. al, 1981).

Oh so Savvy Mom (2009), listed a few facts about Borax. Borax is actually Sodium

Tetraborate. The first Borax came from the dry lake deposits in Tibet, China. Hot water can

hold more dissolved borax than cold water. That’s why we use boiling water to make borax

crystals. As the borax/water mixture cools, the water molecules slow down and move closer

together. As a result, there is less space in the solution for the dissolved borax. This process

is called precipitation. It is what makes the formation of crystals. Borax crystals occur as tall

or stubby prismatic crystals. 6. Borax is classified as sedimentary rock.

Borax is soluble in water, yielding a weakly alkaline solution. It is easily fusible (1-1.5)

with much swelling and gives strong yellow flame (sodium). Readily soluble in water.

Turmeric paper, moistened with a dilute hydrochloric acid solution of the mineral, turns

reddish brown when dried at 100 C. Borax yields much water when heated.

Borax is an important industrial commodity. The mineral borax was formerly obtained in

the United States, especially in California, Oregon and Nevada, by the evaporation of the

water of borax lakes, by washing the crystals from the mud on their bottoms and by the
leaching of the mineral from marsh soil. At present, however, nearly all the borax of

commerce is manufactured from colemanite (Nevada Outback, 2014).

Borax is used as an antiseptic, in medicine, in the industrial arts as a flux for soldering

brass and welding metals, and in the manufacture of cosmetics. Boron is also used in solid

state electronics for integrated circuitry and to make Boron Carbide, a very hard and durable

substance. Boric acid is obtained from borax and colemanite is employed in the manufacture

of colored glazes, in making enamels and glass, and as a preservative. Some of the borates

are used as pigments.

“Growing” crystals with borax powder (a mineral) and pipe cleaners is a popular kid’s

craft and fun science experiment, but Amanda Kingloff (n.d) made it possible for adults to try

growing borax crystals without feeling the least bit sheepish. Learning how to grow crystals

using borax is a simple way to introduce how a crystal is formed. Students can also throw in

some information on the recrystallization process, saturated solutions, as well as solubility.

According to Amanda Kingloff, The activities suggested for using the sodium

chloride (salt) crystals are also suitable for the borax. Similar growth-stage exhibits could be

made. It could be tested for cleavage. One crystal could be taken from the solution, dried, tied

with a thread, and used for a seed to be suspended in a saturated solution. A solution with

which growing crystals are in contact is certainly saturated. Otherwise they would dissolve.

Therefore if such a solution is poured into another container, at the same temperature, (taken

away from the several little crystals growing in it) it will deposit borax on a borax seed hung in

it.

The seed near the bottom of the container. The reason for this is as follows. The

density of a saturated solution of almost anything is greater than that of an unsaturated

solution. As borax is deposited on the crystal, the solution from which it is deposited becomes
less dense and rises. The denser, saturated solution (weighing more, per unit volume) flows

in to take its place and bring more material to the seed crystal. If the seed is close to the top

of the solution, the less dense, unsaturated solution surrounds its upper end. Of course, right

at the surface, where the solution is in contact with the air, evaporation results in

crystallization. Seeds often form there, but can only develop on one side and are always,

therefore, distorted in form.

Some crystals, such as borax, grow faces that do not meet at right angles. Borax and

salt have different shapes. Borax and salt have different effects on light, as indicated by their

appearance between crossed polarizers. The two substances could be distinguished from

each other by the properties which have been observed. They differ in solubility, crystal form,

cleavage, and effect on light. It is clear, therefore, that when borax comes out of solution, it

builds borax crystals in a different way from that in which the salt builds salt crystals when it

comes out of solution. (Garrett, D., & Rosenbaum, G. (1958)

Although Borax is one of the cheapest alternatives into making crystals, it is also

harmful when it is in contact with any open areas in our body especially in the eyes, nose,

mouth, and open wounds. Barbara Lubelli (2013), who studied the effects on Borax said that

“Understanding the effect of borax on factors influencing transport and crystallization kinetics

of sodium sulfate helps to clarify how this modifier might limit crystallization damage. It has

been observed that the addition of borax to sodium sulfate solutions has no influence on the

wetting properties (contact angle on glass, surface tension, or evaporation rate) and therefore

will not influence solution transport. Additionally, the influence of borax on the crystallization

kinetics of sodium sulfate was studied under controlled environmental conditions.”

Borax can be irritating when exposure occurs through skin or eye contact, inhalation

or ingestion. Poison reports suggest misuse of borax-based pesticides can result in acute
toxicity, with symptoms including vomiting, eye irritation, nausea, skin rash, oral irritation and

respiratory effects. Toddlers and young children face special risks from hand-to-mouth

transfer of carpet or crack and crevice, dust or spray borax treatments.

CHAPTER III - METHODOLOGY

A. Materials

a. 3 tbsp Borax

b. 2 Plastic cups

c. 2 Food Coloring (optional)

d. 2 pieces of Thread

e. 2 Wooden Skewers

f. 4 Cups Boiling Water

g. 2 pieces of Rocks (Rocks that can fit the plastic cups but it shouldn't be touching on the
sides and on the bottom)

B. Procedure

a. Cut three pieces of string and tie one around each pencil. Once tied to the pencils, cut the

strings so that they are of equal length and long enough that when the pencil is laid across

the top of one of the cups, the end of the string hangs down to just above the bottom of the

cup.

b. Fill a cooking pot with enough water to fill each plastic cups.

Tip: If you use a measuring cup to measure the amount of water you add to the pot, this can

help you figure out how much borax to add.

c. Then, with adult supervision, bring that water to a boil on the stove. Once the water is

boiling, turn the burner off so the water is no longer boiling.

Caution: Borax is harmful if inhaled or contacts eyes, so it is advised to not use boiling

water when dissolving the borax.

d. Add 1 tablespoon (Tbsp.) of borax to the water, and stir until it dissolves. Continue to add 1

Tbsp. at a time, until no more borax will dissolve. You may need to wait for several seconds to

see the borax dissolve. Once no more will dissolve, your saturated solution is ready.

Hint: You will probably need to use about 3 Tbsp. of borax for each cup of water.

e. With an adult's help, pour equal amounts of the saturated solution into the two cups.

f. Lay a pencil across the top of each cup so the string hangs down into the saturated

solution.
Tip: If the string just floats on the top of the solution, you can tie a small screw, metal washer,

or other small weight to the end of the strings. Be sure to treat each string the same way.

g. Cover the top of the cups with plastic wrap.

h. Place one cup in the refrigerator, leave one undisturbed on a countertop or table at room

temperature.

I. Leave the cups alone for a minimum of 5 hours, or until crystals form (whichever is

longer), and be sure not to disturb them.

C. Procedure in Testing

If the crystals already formed, slowly and carefully remove the string and place the

newly grown crystals in a napkin. Here is a table in which the researchers can monitor the

growing process and the crystals from the procedure:

Cooling
Trial 1
Condition

Time of
Number Size of Other
Temperat Crystal
ure
of Individual Observatio
Formation
Crystals Crystals ns
(in hours)

Room
Temperat
ure

Refrigerat
or

D. Budget

MATERIALS QUANTITY AND SIZE AMOUNT

Borax 3tbsp P35.00
Plastic Cups 2 pieces Already found at home
Food Coloring 2 colors P.65.00
Thread 2 pieces Already found at home
Wooden Skewers 2 pieces Already found at home
Boiling Water 4 Cups Already found at home
Printing Services 30 copies P.120.00
TOTAL: P220.00
 CHAPTER IV:

RESULTS AND
DISCUSSION

The researchers conducted the experiment last January 20, 2019. They prepared the

materials needed for the crystals to grow. The crystals took half an hour to prepare because
of the boiling water, and with the skewers to be attached with the string and the rock. With this

piece, the crystals starts to grow between the 3-4 hours yet it needs to be untouched or to be

un-disturbed.

When the borax powder was mixed with the hot water, it diluted and formed tiny

bubbles and compresses air pressure in the container. The researchers waited for a minute

until the bubbles disappeared, leaving the solution translucent and ready to be placed by the

model that the researchers chosen, which is the rock.

Cooling
Trial 1
Condition

Time of
Number Size of Other
Tempera Crystal
of Individual Observation
ture Formation
Crystals Crystals s
(in hours)

Covered
Room Purer with
the
Temperat Normal 5 Large stable
whole
ure durability
rock

Watery, can
Separat be easily
Refrigerat ed from break apart
9 Large
or the joint if smashed
crystals (interacted
with force)

The aftermath between the two crystals are practically different. From the room

temperature borax crystals, the joint crystals (the foundation crystals) are firm and covers the

entire rock completely. In the other hand, the refrigerated borax crystals defined the opposite.

The crystals are semi-watery, and the base of the growing crystals can be easily break apart.
 The researchers determined that it is possible to grow crystals by the use of

refrigeration, but instances may occur that the crystallization process slows down. The

temperature of the refrigerator caught the solution and it makes the crystals narrow than the

room temperature Borax Crystals.

Yet the slow cooling of the formation produces impurities (chemical substances inside a

confined amount of liquid, gas, or solid, which differ from the chemical composition of the

material or compound. Impurities are either naturally occurring or added during synthesis of a

chemical or commercial product).

BORAX CRYSTALS IN ROOM TEMPERATURE

BORAX CRYSTALS IN REFRIGERATED TEMPERATURE

CHAPTER V –
CONCLUSION
 Although the container was physically untouched, the process was delayed because of

one thing: crystallization. Crystals often form in nature when liquids cool and start to harden.

Certain molecules in the liquid gather together as they attempt to become stable. They do this

in a uniform and repeating pattern that forms the crystal.

Crystals can have very flat surfaces called facets. They can form geometric shapes

such as triangles, rectangles, and squares. The shapes are a direct result of the type of

molecules and atoms that make up the crystal. Smaller crystals and larger crystals that were

formed of the same molecules and in the same method should have similar shapes.

In this matter, Boric acid is soluble in boiling water. When heated above 170 °C, it

dehydrates, forming metaboric acid (HBO2). Boric acid is a weak monobasic acid, and is

considered a Lewis acid. It dissolves in boiling water and in anhydrous sulfuric acid. When

heated to high temperatures (over 170 °C), it undergoes dehydration to form metaboric acid

(HBO2):

With the table that is associated from the methodology (chapter 3), the researchers defined

the differences between the two crystals that was grown into different temperatures
 Room temperatured Borax Crystals can inhabit the saturated solution to a growing

process, allowing the boric acid to freely expand and grow into different directions. The crystal

lattice formed in every corners of the stone, covering it entirely.

The borax settles out of the cooling suspension due to gravity, it bonds with other borax

on nucleation sites (bumps, impurities in the container) and starts to form seed for further

crystallization. Crystals come together in specific, similar patterns due to the shape of the

molecules forming them. The crystallization on the bottom of the sides of the container, on the

string hanging on the pencil and on the sides of the rock.

Therefore, the room temperature borax crystals are purer than the refrigerated borax crystals.

The slower the process, the purer the crystals that will be obtained.
 CHAPTER VI –
RECOMMENDATION

The proponents in the future will be guided thoroughly if there are exact and appropriate

items to be used during this experiment. Most people who tried to test out and conduct an

experiment about the said crystals used pipe cleaners instead of rocks. Pipe cleaners are

easy to assemble and much more cheaper, but in this investigation, the proponents had a
hard time finding a piece from stores especially in hardware or grocery stores located in the

city.

There is also a big risk in handling the borax powder. The borax is very toxic if its in

contact on the eyes, nose, ears or in any places that is in contact with your body. Gloves will

be your partner in this investigation to avoid any accidents during the experiment.

Borax is marketed as a green product because it doesn’t contain phosphates or

chlorine. Instead, its main ingredient is sodium tetraborate, a naturally occurring mineral.

People sometimes confuse sodium tetraborate — the main ingredient in borax —

and boric acid, which has similar properties. Boric acid, however, is usually used exclusively

as a pesticide and is much more toxic than sodium tetraborate, so it should be handled with

extra special care.

While borax may be natural, that doesn’t mean it’s completely safe. Borax often comes

in a box with a caution label warning users that the product is an eye irritant and that it may

be harmful if swallowed. While people are mostly exposed to borax in their homes, they may

also encounter it at work, such as in factories or at borax mining and refining plants.

Food coloring helps the experiment more of a bliss, because the crystals will then

highlight the color when it undergoes the process of growing in the rock or in the pipe

cleaners already. Make sure to avoid the models to touch or to stick in the sides and at the
bottom of the container. The crystals will skip the touched area or sticks onto the side of the

container if it is in contact with the said material.

For better results, growing the crystals for a complete day or two will give the amazing

results in the borax crystallization, if it is touched or released from the container too soon, it

will end the process.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
FOLLOW APA
CITATION.
 Holden, Alan. Crystals and Crystal Growing, 1982.
Wood, Elizabeth, 1972.
IUCR Organization, 2002.
Home Science Tools, 2017
Papiewski, John, 2018.
Granneman, Sanne J.C, 1999.
Kramer, H.J.M, Rosmalen G.M, Encyclodia of Separation Science, 2000.
Emeritus, Richard J.D Tilley, 1982.
Dans Le Lakehouse, 2015.
Oh so Savvy Mom, 2009.
Randolph, A.D., Puri, A.D., 1981.
Nevada Outback, 2014
Indiana Alliance of Chemistry Teachers, Borax Snow Crystals, 2009.
Dr. Helmenstine, 2017.
Amanda Kingloff, 2015.
Garret, D., Rosenbaum, G, 1958.
 Barbara Lubelli, 2013.

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