tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148069244490960291.post3206880330585970522..comments2023-12-28T03:26:38.341-06:00Comments on Prairie Mother: Marker Monday - Borax CrystalsPrairie Motherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09072295464494031920noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148069244490960291.post-54833577642008992272011-01-18T15:32:50.337-06:002011-01-18T15:32:50.337-06:00I loved making these borax crystals. But, to be co...I loved making these borax crystals. But, to be completely honest with you I didn't even wonder how it happened. But I was sure excited when it did. But now that I know, I find it very interesting.Christyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09915066071767927359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148069244490960291.post-24762683721410176552011-01-17T20:39:27.422-06:002011-01-17T20:39:27.422-06:00@withoutadornment, thanks so much for explaining t...@withoutadornment, thanks so much for explaining the chemical process so much better than I did. Now I'm wanting to make these in the middle of the summer when it's 100+ degrees here and see what happens. Thanks for sharing your nerdiness. P.S. I think nerdiness is wonderful and undervalued!Prairie Motherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09072295464494031920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148069244490960291.post-82024124875801329862011-01-17T19:03:18.055-06:002011-01-17T19:03:18.055-06:00I love that you did this! The chemical engineer in...I love that you did this! The chemical engineer in me is super happy that you wanted to know why it happens instead of saying "it just does." <br /><br />Crystallization is really neat. Did you know that for some chemicals, it forms different crystals depending on the concentration and temperature of the mixture. (Similar to how snow/ice has different structures depending on how cold it is!) <br />Another explanation for the crystals coming out is that a super saturated solution is thermodynamically unstable, thus when a nucleation point is offered (the pipe cleaner), the crystals will begin to form until the crystals and solution are in equilibrium with one another. You'll find that the leftover solution will still have borax in it - the amount of borax in solution will depend on the temperature of the room it is in.<br />Wow, my nerdiness completely just came out there. haha.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8148069244490960291.post-25281214474394142552011-01-17T07:10:24.869-06:002011-01-17T07:10:24.869-06:00Well, now I know! The girls will love this projec...Well, now I know! The girls will love this project. Thanks for the idea!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06003384586082557583noreply@blogger.com