How to Grow Blue Copper Sulfate Crystals

How to Grow Blue Copper Sulfate Crystals Copper sulfate crystals are among the easiest and most beautiful crystals that you can grow. The brilliant blue crystals can be grown relatively quickly and can become quite large.   Copper Sulfate Tips Safety Copper sulfate is harmful if swallowed and can irritate skin and mucous membranes. In case of contact, rinse skin with water. If swallowed, give water and call a physician.Even a small increase in the temperature of the water will greatly affect the amount of copper sulfate (CuS04  . 5H20) that will dissolve.Copper sulfate pentahydrate crystals contain water, so if you want to store your finished crystal, keep it in a sealed container. Otherwise, water will evaporate from the crystals, leaving them dull and powdery from efflorescence. The gray or greenish powder is the anhydrous form of copper sulfate.Copper sulfate is used in copper plating, blood tests for anemia, in algicides and fungicides, in textile manufacturing, and as a desiccant. Copper Sulfate Crystal Materials Copper sulfateWaterJar Make a Saturated Copper Sulfate Solution Stir copper sulfate into very hot water until no more will dissolve. You can just pour the solution into a jar and wait a few days for crystals to grow, but if you grow a seed crystal, you can get much larger and better-shaped crystals. Grow a Seed Crystal Pour a little of the saturated copper sulfate solution into a saucer or shallow dish. Allow it to sit in an undisturbed location for several hours or overnight. Select the best crystal as your seed for growing a large crystal. Scrape the crystal off of the container and tie it to a length of nylon fishing line. Growing a Large Crystal Suspend the seed crystal in a clean jar that you have filled with the solution you made earlier. Dont allow any undissolved copper sulfate to spill into the jar. Dont let the seed crystal touch the sides or bottom of the jar.Place the jar in a location where it wont be disturbed. You can set a coffee filter or paper towel over the top of the container, but allow air circulation so that the liquid can evaporate.Check the growth of your crystal each day. If you see crystals starting to grow on the bottom, sides, or top of the container then remove the seed crystal and suspend it in a clean jar. Pour the solution into this jar. You dont want extra crystals growing because they will compete with your crystal and will slow its growth.When you are pleased with your crystal, you can remove it from the solution and allow it to dry.

Word Choice Elicit vs. Illicit - Proofread My Papers Academic Blog

Word Choice Elicit vs. Illicit - Proofread My Papers Academic Blog Word Choice: Elicit vs. Illicit Some words sound so alike you’d struggle to hear the difference, even when they’re obviously distinct on paper. Understandably, it’s easy to get such words confused. For example, â€Å"elicit† and â€Å"illicit† are similarly pronounced; however, they diverge significantly in spelling and meaning, so you wouldn’t want to mix them up in your written work. But what exactly is the difference? And how should these terms be used? Elicit (Draw Out or Evoke) The term â€Å"elicit† is a verb meaning â€Å"to draw forth or bring out† and often used when something is done to provoke a reaction or obtain information: At first he ignored me, but a few probing questions eventually elicited an answer. Usually, â€Å"elicit† is reserved for deliberate attempts to gain a response, but it can simply describe being affected by something: The death of her childhood hero elicited an emotional response. Illicit (Illegal or Forbidden) Something â€Å"illicit† is either illegal or counter to society’s moral standards: Until recently, Cuban cigars were an illicit tobacco product. Although Ted and Diane were happily married to other people, they could not deny their illicit love. Note the second sentence above is merely something of which society disapproves (an extramarital affair) rather than something illegal. Elicit or Illicit? As you can see, these terms have very little in common beyond the way they sound when spoken. For example, it wouldn’t make sense to say something â€Å"illicited a response† or to refer to stolen goods as â€Å"elicit items†! Luckily, since â€Å"illicit† is a synonym for â€Å"illegal† and both start with â€Å"ill-,† it’s pretty easy to remember which word to use in any given situation: Is what you’re describing against the law or forbidden? If so, use the adjective â€Å"illicit†; Are you describing something that has provoked a response? If so, use the verb â€Å"elicit.†