Growing crystals is actually pretty easy to do at home and makes a great science and chemistry experiment for kids. This Crystal hearts Valentines Science Experiment makes a great science craft and decoration to try with kids. We love holiday themed science and STEM activities, and I think it really helps his love of science to come out!

FUN CRYSTAL HEARTS VALENTINES SCIENCE EXPERIMENT

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This crystal hearts Valentines science experiment is a set it up and forget about it kind of experiment like our crystal snowflakes! Growing crystals is definitely a classic science experiment  that you must try with your kids! Or check out all the great science ideas you can try for Valentine’s Day this year.

CRYSTAL HEARTS VALENTINES SCIENCE EXPERIMENT SET UP

This is a fun to observe chemical reaction for kids! Since you are dealing with hot water, my son watched the process while I measured the solution and stirred. Borax is also a chemical powder and is best used by an adult for safety. An older child might be able to help a little more!

If you want a more hands on on type of crystal chemistry experiment, try our salt crystal hearts

CRYSTAL GROWING SUPPLIES

Borax 

Jars or vases

Popsicle sticks, string, tape

Pipe cleaners

To get started with your crystal hearts, take your pipe cleaners and form them into hearts! Make sure you can get your heart in and out easily. Yes, you can push the pipe cleaner into the jar, but once it is crystalized it will be very hard to pull out!

 Use the popsicle stick {pencil or spoon} to tie the string around. I used a small piece of tape to keep it in place. You can do two hearts in one jar but make sure they are small and have room! They would also look pretty if they grew together!

MAKE THE CRYSTAL GROWING SOLUTION

Boil 3 cups of water. Measure 9 tablespoons of borax powder into a mixing bowl. Add water and mix well. You may need to make several batches depending on how many candy canes you want to make. The solution is 1 cup of water to 3 tablespoons of borax powder.

The solution will appear cloudy but that’s the suspension science part of the whole activity! Read up on the science below.

These crystal hearts are so simple and easy but so pretty too! We have them hanging in our windows! Make sure to check out our 14 DAY STEM COUNTDOWN to Valentines Day.

 THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE  CRYSTAL HEARTS VALENTINES SCIENCE EXPERIMENT

Crystal growing is a neat chemistry project that is a quick set up involving liquids, solids, and soluble solutions. Because there are still solid particles within the liquid mixture, if let untouched, the particles will settle to form crystals.

You are making a saturated solution with more powder than the liquid can hold. The hotter the liquid, the more saturated the solution can become. This is because the molecules in the water move farther apart allowing more of the powder to be dissolved. If the water is colder, the molecules in it will be closer together.

As the solution cools down there is all of a sudden going to be more particles in the water as the molecules move back together. Some of these particles will start to fall out of the suspended state they were once in, and the particles will start to settle on the pipe cleaners as well as the container and form crystals. Once a tiny seed crystal is started, more of the falling material bonds with it to form bigger crystals.

Crystals are a solid with flat sides and symmetrical shape and will always be that way (unless impurities get in the way). They are made up of molecules and have a perfectly arranged and repeating pattern. Some might be bigger or smaller though.

Let your crystal hearts work their magic overnight. We were all impressed by what we saw when we woke up in the morning! We had quite the pretty crystal hearts Valentine’s science experiment!

 CRYSTAL HEARTS VALENTINES SCIENCE EXPERIMENT FOR KIDS!

Make sure to check out these awesome Valentine’s Day science and STEM ideas too. Click on photos.