• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Rookie Parenting

  • Preschool
  • Elementary
    • Kindergarten
    • 1st Grade
    • 2nd Grade
    • 3rd Grade
    • 4th Grade
    • 5th Grade
  • Middle School
    • 6th Grade
    • 7th Grade
    • 8th Grade
  • High School
    • 9th Grade
    • 10th Grade
    • 11th Grade
    • 12th Grade
    • STEM
  • About

Grow A Crystal Angel Ornament – Science Experiment

By Rookie Parenting Science Updated 05/15/2020

5 crystal angels science experiment for kids

Grow A Crystal Angel Ornament

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Active Time: 30 minutes
Additional Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 5 hours

This is a fun experiment for kids.

Materials

  • Borax (found in laundry section)
  • colorful pipe cleaners (dollar store)
  • water
  • string
  • a pencil or a stick

Tools

  • wide-mouth jar or glass
  • imagination
  • adult supervision

Instructions

  1. Bend a pipe cleaner into the shape you want to make a crystal out of. This is the step you can use your imagination.5 pipe cleaners in angel shapes
  2. Fill the glass with water to around three quarters full. Then use a measuring cup to measure the amount of water used.
  3. Boil the water in a pan under adult supervision.
  4. Carefully pour the boiling water into the glass.
  5. Dissolve plenty of Borax into the hot water. For each cup of water, add 3 tablespoons of Borax. 
  6. Stir the water until all the powder has dissolved or the powder left at the bottom cannot dissolve further. This phenomenon is called saturation. 
  7. Tie the shape you previously made with a string and hang the shape at the mouth of the glass using the pencil or the stick. Make sure the pipe cleaner is fully submerged and not touching the side of the glass. angel pipe cleaners are dangled from pencils into glasses with water
  8. Put the glass at an area where it won't be disturbed for the next hour.
  9. Patiently wait. 5 finished crystal angels, one closeup

Notes

Unlike growing crystals using sugar or salt, crystallization using Borax is relatively fast. Crystals can be seen forming as early as two hours after the glass is set aside.

Monitor the progress from time to time to get the desired thickness of crystals. If left overnight, it may become too thick.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Pipe Cleaners
    Pipe Cleaners
  • Borax Laundry Booster
    Borax Laundry Booster
© Rookie Parenting

Why

One of the most salient properties of water is its ability to dissolve other materials. In this experiment, Borax powder was dissolved into the water until the solution is saturated, meaning no more powder can be absorbed.

Water can dissolve more powder when it is hot. As the water cools, the powder starts to solidify, i.e. turning from liquid form into the solid form. The precipitated solid sticks together and form crystal on the pipe cleaner and on the side of the glass. 

For more scientific explanations on crystallization, see Nucleation and Crystal Growth.

Make crystal angel experiment. Angel shaped pipe cleaners are hung inside glasses with borax water. Example of a finished purple crystal angel.

Primary Sidebar

Editor’s Choice

  • Awesome Science Experiments for Kids
    Awesome Science Experiments for Kids: 100+ Fun STEM / STEAM Projects and Why They Work

Footer

Disclaimer and Safety Precautions

Rookieparenting.com provides science activity ideas for informational purposes only. Rookieparenting.com does not make any guarantee or representation regarding such ideas and is not responsible or liable for any loss or damage, directly or indirectly, caused by your use of such information.

By accessing the science activity ideas on Rookieparenting.com, you waive and renounce any claims against Rookieparenting.com that arise thereof. In addition, your access to Rookieparenting.com’s website is covered by Rookieparenting.com’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Warning is hereby given that not all activities are appropriate for all individuals or in all situations. Implementation should be undertaken only in appropriate settings and with appropriate parental or adult supervision.

Reading and following the safety precautions of all materials used in an activity is the sole responsibility of each individual. For further information, consult your state’s Science Safety Handbook.

Rookie Parenting Science is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Copyright © 2021 rookieparenting.com. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms Of Service