Crystal Hearts
Here's a science experiment that your sweetheart will love!

Ingredients
Red Pipe Cleaners
Thread
Water
Borax
Ruler
Container

Instructions
STEP 1: Twist a red pipe cleaner into the shape of a heart.
STEP 2: Using the thread, tie your pipe cleaner heart to the ruler. Place the ruler on the top of the container to see if the heart floats freely inside the container.
STEP 3: Remove the ruler with the heart attached and add several cups of boiling water
into the container. Add about 1/4 cup of borax for every 2 cups of boiling water. Stir the
mixture until most of the borax is dissolved.
STEP 4: Place the ruler back on the top of the container allowing the heart to float in the
borax solution. Leave the heart in the borax solution overnight.

Explanation
Borax is a crystal. When water is heated, the molecules move farther apart. This makes
a lot of room for borax crystals to form. As the water evaporates, the crystals deposit on
the pipe cleaner creating a crystal heart.
BACK TO EXPERIMENT ARCHIVE
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performed correctly
the experiment could
be dangerous.  
Jason Lindsey,
Hooked on Science,
and ALL Hooked on
Science affiliates
expressly disclaims
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guardian of the child
and the performer of
the experiment
assume all the
liability and will use
these science
experiments at their
own risk!  
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