Add some sparkle to Easter with a crystal chemistry experiment! Discover how to make your own crystal eggshell geodes below.
What you need:
- Borax
- Glue
- Hot water
- 2 heat-proof cups
- Eggs
- Food coloring
How to grow eggshell crystals:
1. Make a borax solution by pouring boiling water into a heat-safe cup and adding borax until it stops dissolving. Pour the solution into another heat-safe cup, leaving the extra borax behind, and let cool.
2. Prepare eggshells by cracking open the top and removing the egg.
3. Brush glue inside the eggshell and sprinkle borax on top. Pour out any excess and let dry.
4. Fill a cup with the borax solution and add a few drops of food coloring, making sure you have enough solution to fully submerge the eggshell.
5. Place your eggshells in a narrow cup to hold them upright.
6. Once the glue has dried and the solution has reached room temperature, pour the solution into the eggshell. Leave overnight or until your crystals have reached your desired size.
7. Carefully pour the crystal mixtures out of the eggshell and place on a paper towel to dry. You’re done!
What’s going on?
When you add as much borax as possible to hot water, you’ve dissolved way more than you could mix into the same amount of cold water. As this hot solution cools, it wants to begin crystallizing immediately, which is aided by the “seeds” we’ve added. This combination makes all the extra borax in the solution crystallize quickly and become solid, giving the eggs a geode-like appearance.
Warning: Borax (sodium tetraborate) is a naturally-occurring mineral salt commonly used as a laundry booster or cleaner. As with any other cleaning product, it should be kept away from children not under direct supervision of an adult. Do not allow children to ingest Borax. If consumed, contact a poison control center immediately. Wash hands after play, as prolonged skin exposure may cause irritation.
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