Celebrate winter with your kids by creating this crystal snowflake. Whip up some kitchen chemistry and a cool snowflake to hang in your window, on your tree or in their rooms. You will be creating a supersaturated solution using Borax laundry detergent and boiling water, so adult supervision is recommended.
You will need:
3 Pipe cleaners
string
Borax
glass mason jar
boiling water
adult supervision
pencil
food coloring
Start by twisting the pipe cleaner pieces to make a snowflake or star like shape. You can get fancy or keep it simple. Just check that your creation will fit inside the glass jar.
Next, tie string to your snowflake and attach it to a pencil so that it dangles down into your jar. Check length so that the snowflake doesn't touch the bottom of the jar. You will want the snowflake to be completely covered by liquid once we pour it into the jar.
Get an adult to help with the next step. Boil water in either the microwave or on the stove top. Once water is boiling add it to your container that you will use to grow your snowflake.
Add 3 Tablespoons of Borax Laundry Detergent for each 1 cup of water in the container. Stir until all the Borax becomes suspended in the water. You are creating a supersaturated solution. Now is the time to add food coloring if you would like.
Take your snowflake pipe cleaner creation and put it into the solution. The pencil and string should hold the snowflake in the middle of the solution. Place in a location that your experiment will not be disturbed for 24hrs. Come back and check it tomorrow.
How does your snowflake look? Share your snowflakes on Twitter or Instagram use #WSKGSnowflake and we might feature yours!