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I have so many questions. How hard are they? Are they fragile? Many of them suffer from desiccation and I wonder if they can be "sealed" in some manner. Or
by at_a_remove 5y ago
I have so many questions.
How hard are they? Are they fragile?
Many of them suffer from desiccation and I wonder if they can be "sealed" in some manner. Or if the UV-sensitive crystals can be protected by some kind of coating.
It would also be interesting to see what would happen using the crystals grown in one solution as seeds in a chemically different solution. The right sequence might not be reactive, but you could layer them ...
- HarryHirsch 5y agoIt would also be interesting to see what would happen using the crystals grown in one solution as seeds in a chemically different solution. The right sequence might not be reactive, but you could layer them ... Ooh, epitaxial growth! Could try that with a series of alums - Al(iii), Cr(iii) and Fe(iii) is all readily available.
- jws 5y agoMy copper sulfate crystal, about the size of a half a banana and grown from information on the article’s site, is doing well submerged in mineral oil in a sealed glass jar. If you do this, get it fairly dry first because surface moisture will form a thin layer between the oil and the crystal making a shiny surface from different refractive indices.
- crystalchase21 5y agoThey are hardy enough to be handled, but will chip if scratched, and break if dropped. I store my crystals in a sealed container, and they are fine after a month. People who have left them outside do not report dehydration, but the surface still turns white due to exposure to light. Some crystals can be successfully sealed in resin to prevent dehydration. Preventing light from photodecomposing potassium ferrioxalate crystals would be very tricky. I do not know whether it is possible.