Let this be the year you take the challenge of having your students grow crystals! The National Crystal Growing Competition is a fun, hands-on experience as well as an exciting competition. Schools are provided with materials and instructions on how to grow crystals and the objective is to grow the biggest and highest quality single crystal. All the information to register and order the starting materials is online. The first bottle is free but you will need to pay for shipping.
When does it take place? Materials are typically available to order in early September. In 2014, the crystal growing period will run from October 6 to November 10. The deadline for submitting your crystal for judging to your regional coordinator is November 21, 2014.
For the sake of variety, the chemicals are alternated each year. Thus far, the competition has used different substances such as:
- Cupric sulfate pentahydrate (bluestone)
- Aluminum potassium sulfate (alum) and
- Potassium sodium tartrate (Rochelle Salt).
The choices were made on the basis of relative safety, availability, and good crystal growth.
In 2013, crystals were grown with a mixture of sodium aluminum sulfate and potassium aluminum sulfate.
(The coin is a 25-cent piece, 24 mm in diameter.)
2013 Best Overall Crystals (above)
- First place: Maude Caouette-Gaucher of Collège Lionel-Groulx, Ste-Thérèse QC
- Second place: Dhruv Kumar Patel, Jay Patel, Netan Bhardwaj and Apporar Dhairaya of North Albion Collegiate Institute, Etobicoke ON
- Third place: Emily Eaton, Jasy Yee and Sourina Douangpaseuth of A.Y. Jackson Secondary School, Ottawa ON
2013 Best Quality Crystal (right)
- Yiwei Chen and Jessica Cheng of Harry Ainlay High School, Edmonton AB
2013 Best Crystal from Teacher
- Roch Lavigne of École Secondaire Louis Riel, Gloucester ON
