Creating a Safe Chemical Garden for an 8-Year-Old

[wolram]

hi.
many years ago my father made a chemical garden I am sure
it was grown on coal, can anyone sugest non lethal
chemicals to use, it will be for my godson 8yrs old
hopefully yours.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Wolram,

Ithink I know what you're talking
about. When I was a kid, they
were called "Crystal Gardens".
You put a bunch of crystals in
water and they start growing like
undersea coral type things.

I'm almost positive they still
make and sell kits with all these
crystals. Call around to toys-
stores. If you live in a city
that has a science museum, you
might check if there is a gift
store associated with it. That's
the place you'd be most likely
to find one.

-Zooby

 

[wolram]

thanks zooby, I am sure your correct about crystals,
it must be 40yrs now but way back I am sure coal was
used to grow them on, anyways thanks for idea.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Originally posted by wolram
thanks zooby, I am sure your correct about crystals,
it must be 40yrs now but way back I am sure coal was
used to grow them on, anyways thanks for idea.

They may, in fact, provide lumps
of charcoal or something carbon-
aceous with these kits, as the
"soil" for growing your crystal
"trees". If you had a good lump
of coal to use instead it should
work fine.

-zooby

 

[sasha]

You can make crystals from the following:
Alum
Boric Acid
Washing sode
Baking soda
Salt
Sugar
Epsom Salts

More exotic are:
Zinc sulfate
Copper sulate
Ferrous sulfate

etc are usually sold in crystal growing kits e.g. http://www.sciencekits.com/crystal.html

 

[enigma]

As a kid, I remember making crystals out of sugar and food coloring. They didn't grow very big. I'm sure there are kits that make cooler samples.

 

[wolram]

many thanks sasha, i think i will buy a kit from the site
you posted, my godson will be well chuffed