NOISE - New Outlooks In Science & Engineering
New Outlooks In Science & Engineering
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Try this at home

Make non-melting snowflakes!

YOU NEED:

String, pint glass, pipe cleaners, salt/sugar/Borax, pencil, boiling water, food colouring, scissors

 

METHOD:

  1. Cut a pipe cleaner into three equal sections.
  2. Twist the sections together at their centres to form a six-sided snowflake shape. Don't worry if an end isn't even, just trim to get the desired shape. The snowflake should fit inside the jar.
  3. Tie the string to the end of one of the snowflake arms. Tie the other end of the string to the pencil. You want the length to be such that the pencil hangs the snowflake into the jar.
  4. Fill the pint glass with boiling water.
  5. Add borax one tablespoon at a time to the boiling water, stirring to dissolve after each addition. The amount used is 3 tablespoons borax per cup of water. It is okay if some undissolved borax settles to the bottom of the jar.
  6. If desired, you may tint the mixture with food colour.
  7. Hang the pipe cleaner snowflake into the jar so that the pencil rests on top of the jar and the snowflake is completely covered with liquid and hangs freely (not touching the bottom of the jar).
  8. Allow the jar to sit in an undisturbed location overnight.
  9. Look at the pretty crystals.

RESULT:

Pretty snowflake crystals that won’t melt and can be hung on the tree or in your window to sparkle with the sunlight!

 

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NOISE (New Outlooks In Science & Engineering) is a UK-wide campaign funded by the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Initiated in 2000, it aims to raise awareness of science and engineering among young people. www.epsrc.ac.uk
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