Difference between revisions of "Make Rock Salt"
(importing article from wikihow) |
m (Text replacement - "[[Category:S" to "[[Category: S") |
||
| (3 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
Rock salt is just coarse-grained [[Make Salt Crystals|table salt]]. Many stores sell it by the pound in bags. If you can't find any, then with a little work it's not hard to make your own. You can use these crystals as garnish for food, or you can keep them and add them to your personal rock collection. | Rock salt is just coarse-grained [[Make Salt Crystals|table salt]]. Many stores sell it by the pound in bags. If you can't find any, then with a little work it's not hard to make your own. You can use these crystals as garnish for food, or you can keep them and add them to your personal rock collection. | ||
| − | [[Category:Salt and Pepper]] | + | [[Category: Salt and Pepper]] |
== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
=== Making Basic Rock Salt === | === Making Basic Rock Salt === | ||
#Boil some water in a saucepan. You need enough water to fill your jar. How much water you use will depend on how large your jar is. | #Boil some water in a saucepan. You need enough water to fill your jar. How much water you use will depend on how large your jar is. | ||
| − | #Stir some salt into the water and let it dissolve. Keep the water boiling at this point. You can use any type of salt, such as: iodized salt, uniodized salt, sea salt or Epsom salt.<ref>http://www.saltassociation.co.uk/education/properties-of-salt/grow-salt-crystal/</ref> If you plan on eating the salt crystals, do not use Epsom salt. | + | #Stir some salt into the water and let it dissolve. Keep the water boiling at this point. You can use any type of salt, such as: iodized salt, uniodized salt, sea salt or Epsom salt.<ref name="rf1">http://www.saltassociation.co.uk/education/properties-of-salt/grow-salt-crystal/</ref> If you plan on eating the salt crystals, do not use Epsom salt. |
#* Uniodized salt will give you the best-shaped crystals. | #* Uniodized salt will give you the best-shaped crystals. | ||
| − | #Keep adding salt until no more will dissolve, and a few grains remain at the bottom. If you want to make colored rock salt, add a few drops of food coloring. The more food coloring you add, the darker your crystals will become.<ref>http://sciencenotes.org/grow-table-salt-or-sodium-chloride-crystals/</ref> | + | #Keep adding salt until no more will dissolve, and a few grains remain at the bottom. If you want to make colored rock salt, add a few drops of food coloring. The more food coloring you add, the darker your crystals will become.<ref name="rf2">http://sciencenotes.org/grow-table-salt-or-sodium-chloride-crystals/</ref> |
| − | #Take the saucepan off heat, and pour the salt water into your jar. Be careful not to get any of those extra salt grains into your jar.<ref | + | #Take the saucepan off heat, and pour the salt water into your jar. Be careful not to get any of those extra salt grains into your jar.<ref name="rf2" /> |
| − | #* Some people find that placing a spoon into the jar first helps keep the jar from cracking.<ref | + | #* Some people find that placing a spoon into the jar first helps keep the jar from cracking.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#Tie a string to a pencil. The string should be long enough to fit inside your jar, but not so long that it touches the bottom. About 1/2 to 1 inch (1.27 to 2.54 centimeters) from the bottom of the jar will be plenty. | #Tie a string to a pencil. The string should be long enough to fit inside your jar, but not so long that it touches the bottom. About 1/2 to 1 inch (1.27 to 2.54 centimeters) from the bottom of the jar will be plenty. | ||
| − | #Lay the pencil across top of jar and dip the string into the water. The string should be suspended in the water. If string won't stay down, tie a bead or paper clip to it.<ref>http://www.sciencecompany.com/Simple-Crystals-on-a-String.aspx</ref> Again, the bottom of the string should '''not''' be touching the bottom of jar. If it is, cut the string shorter. | + | #Lay the pencil across top of jar and dip the string into the water. The string should be suspended in the water. If string won't stay down, tie a bead or paper clip to it.<ref name="rf3">http://www.sciencecompany.com/Simple-Crystals-on-a-String.aspx</ref> Again, the bottom of the string should '''not''' be touching the bottom of jar. If it is, cut the string shorter. |
| − | #Place the jar someplace where it won't be disturbed. If you can, try to keep the jar covered, such as with a box. You want the water to be able to evaporate, but you don't want any dust to get inside the jar, which can prevent the crystals from forming.<ref | + | #Place the jar someplace where it won't be disturbed. If you can, try to keep the jar covered, such as with a box. You want the water to be able to evaporate, but you don't want any dust to get inside the jar, which can prevent the crystals from forming.<ref name="rf3" /> The room temperature should also remain consistent. |
#Wait for the crystals to grow. As the water evaporates, it will leave the salt behind. During this time, the salt will begin to come together and form crystals. Most of the crystals will grow on the strong, but you may also get some growing on the walls of the jar. | #Wait for the crystals to grow. As the water evaporates, it will leave the salt behind. During this time, the salt will begin to come together and form crystals. Most of the crystals will grow on the strong, but you may also get some growing on the walls of the jar. | ||
#* It will take a few days for the crystals to grow. The longer you wait, the larger they will become. If you want really large crystals, you will need to use a crystal seed. Click [[#seed|here]] to learn how to grow and use a crystal seed. | #* It will take a few days for the crystals to grow. The longer you wait, the larger they will become. If you want really large crystals, you will need to use a crystal seed. Click [[#seed|here]] to learn how to grow and use a crystal seed. | ||
| Line 21: | Line 21: | ||
#Stir some salt to the boiling water and let it dissolve. Keep adding salt until no more will dissolve, and you see a few grains of salt at the bottom of the pot. | #Stir some salt to the boiling water and let it dissolve. Keep adding salt until no more will dissolve, and you see a few grains of salt at the bottom of the pot. | ||
#Pour the water into a small saucer or dish. Once no more salt will dissolve, take the saucepan off the stove, and pour the water into a small dish. You are only using a little bit of water for now, so that it can evaporate faster. You will likely have a lot of water left over. Either save this water for later, or pour it out. | #Pour the water into a small saucer or dish. Once no more salt will dissolve, take the saucepan off the stove, and pour the water into a small dish. You are only using a little bit of water for now, so that it can evaporate faster. You will likely have a lot of water left over. Either save this water for later, or pour it out. | ||
| − | #* Be very careful not to get any salt grains into the dish. If you get any salt grains, your salt crystals won't be very big.<ref>http://skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/crystalgrow/how-form.htm</ref> | + | #* Be very careful not to get any salt grains into the dish. If you get any salt grains, your salt crystals won't be very big.<ref name="rf4">http://skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/crystalgrow/how-form.htm</ref> |
#Wait until the water evaporates and crystals form. Put the dish someplace where it won't be disturbed. It will take a few hours to a day for the water to evaporate and tiny crystals to form. | #Wait until the water evaporates and crystals form. Put the dish someplace where it won't be disturbed. It will take a few hours to a day for the water to evaporate and tiny crystals to form. | ||
| − | #Pick out a crystal. The crystal should be well-shaped, and not have any smaller crystals attached to it.<reF>http://skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/crystalgrow/how-form.htm</ref> This is known as a "seed crystal." The rest of the salt crystals will cling to this, and create a perfect, cubic crystal.<ref | + | #Pick out a crystal. The crystal should be well-shaped, and not have any smaller crystals attached to it.<reF>http://skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/crystalgrow/how-form.htm</ref> This is known as a "seed crystal." The rest of the salt crystals will cling to this, and create a perfect, cubic crystal.<ref name="rf2" /> |
#Tie a piece of thread to the crystal. Tie the other end of the thread to a pencil. You can also use a popsicle stick or chopstick instead. | #Tie a piece of thread to the crystal. Tie the other end of the thread to a pencil. You can also use a popsicle stick or chopstick instead. | ||
#Fill a jar with more salt water, and let the water cool. Boil some more water, and add some salt to it. Keep adding salt until no more will dissolve, and you see a few grains at the bottom of the pot. Take the pot off the stove and let the water cool. | #Fill a jar with more salt water, and let the water cool. Boil some more water, and add some salt to it. Keep adding salt until no more will dissolve, and you see a few grains at the bottom of the pot. Take the pot off the stove and let the water cool. | ||
| − | #Place the pencil over the mouth of the jar, and slowly lower the crystal into the water. Don't let it splash into the water, if you may trigger the growth of smaller crystals.<ref | + | #Place the pencil over the mouth of the jar, and slowly lower the crystal into the water. Don't let it splash into the water, if you may trigger the growth of smaller crystals.<ref name="rf4" /> The water must be cool, or the crystal may dissolve. |
| − | #Place the jar someplace where it won't get disturbed, and wait. If you can, try to keep the jar covered, such as with a box. You want the water to be able to evaporate, but you don't want any dust to get into the jar. The temperature in the room must also be consistent.<ref | + | #Place the jar someplace where it won't get disturbed, and wait. If you can, try to keep the jar covered, such as with a box. You want the water to be able to evaporate, but you don't want any dust to get into the jar. The temperature in the room must also be consistent.<ref name="rf4" /> |
#Use the crystal. As the water evaporates, the salt will stay behind, and collect on your seed crystal. The longer you wait, the larger your crystal will become. Once it reaches the size you want, pull the crystal out of the water, and cut the string off. Pour the salt water out. You should now have an extra-large salt rock. | #Use the crystal. As the water evaporates, the salt will stay behind, and collect on your seed crystal. The longer you wait, the larger your crystal will become. Once it reaches the size you want, pull the crystal out of the water, and cut the string off. Pour the salt water out. You should now have an extra-large salt rock. | ||
