Ms. Hillier's 5th grade class had some pre holiday break fun while learning about crystallization and chemical reactions. As a bonus, the students created cool holiday ornaments to take home for some added cheer!
Students made two kinds of Christmas ornaments!
1. Crystallized Candy canes
The formation of crystals involves ionic bonding. Salt crystals are formed in a specific pattern of ionic bonding which will always produce a square shape. Students were able to look at them with microscopes. When salt is dissolved into water, the water molecules separate the salt molecules. But as the water evaporates, the salt molecules bond once more. The crystals stick to the chenille stems because as the salt molecules fall to the bottom of the jar, some cling to the chenille stems.
2. Erupting ornaments: Students learned when vinegar and baking soda mix, they create a chemical reaction that gives off CO2. As the gas rises into the air, the bubbles with the paint showed evidence of the chemical reaction.