Coal isn’t just for Christmas stockings, old trains or grilling hamburgers. Here’s an earth science fun fact: when coal is under great pressure for millions of years, it creates beautiful, sparkling diamonds. You won’t have to wait nearly that long for their own pieces of coal to turn into gems. With a simple chemical experiment, you’ll be able to create crystals before your very eyes!
What You Need:
- 2 tablespoons table salt
- 4 tablespoons liquid bluing
- 2 tablespoons ammonia
- Disposable plastic plate
- Small glass jar
- Disposable spoon
- 8–10 charcoal briquettes
- Food coloring
What You Do:
- Mix a solution of table salt, liquid bluing and ammonia together in a small glass jar. Make sure you avoid breathing in the ammonia fumes.
- Stir the mixture with a spoon until the ingredients are well mixed.
- Place four charcoal briquettes onto the plastic plate and add a few drops of food coloring onto each piece of charcoal.
- Now, pour a small amount of the mixed solution on top of the charcoal.
- You’ll notice that beautiful colors and shapes begin to emerge from the chemical reaction. While this process is unfolding, repeat steps 1–4 again for the next 4 pieces of charcoal.
This fun activity will not only introduces geologic concepts, it also illustrates that beautiful things can come from unlikely places. Even the blackest briquette might be hiding a beautiful jewel!
Tips:
- If you can’t find bluing at a store near you, it is available online: http://www.mrsstewart.com/ (Mrs. Stewart’s Bluing).
- Crystals form on the porous materials and grow by drawing up the solution using capillary action. Water evaporates on the surface, depositing solids/forming crystals, and pulling more solution up from the base of the plate.
Find more fun science at www.magicscientist.com
