Chemistree

Purpose:

    A Christmas tree is made from blotter paper and placed into a solution. As the blotter paper absorbs the solution, evaporation occurs on the edges of the tree resulting in crystal formation.

Materials:

  • blotter paper

  • 6 tablespoons of laundry bluing.

  • 6 tablespoons of salt.

  • 6 tablespoons of water.

  • food coloring (optional).

  • 1 tablespoon of ammonia (optional).

Procedure:

  1. Two Christmas trees of the same size (5 inches high) and shape are made of blotter paper (green).

  2. Cut the first tree from the top toward the bottom, half way. The other tree should be cut half way up from the base.

  3. Notch the trees together and make the parts perpendicular to each other.

  4. Mix the liquids, salt and bluing together and place in a dish. Stand the tree in the dish.

  5. You can put food coloring on the ends of the branches for an added effect.

  6. Check on the progress of the salt formation on the branches of the tree over several hours. If you let it go too long the tree will fall over due to the weight of the salt.

  7. Let the tree dry and put it in a good location.

Discussion:

Ammonia is used to speed up the evaporation rate at the edges of the blotter paper.

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