4M Crystal Growing Kit

Bought a gift for my granddaughters and we made crystals together. It was a fun STEM project! Crystals came out great. My only feedback for the manufacturer is the kit could have used slightly more quantity in each of the red and blue color packets and those colored crystals were a bit difficult to manage in the tiny spoon. Note to parents/supervising adults: this kit does require using boiling water and chemicals, we gloved up, used safety goggles and covered the work area with paper bags cut to fit. We had these on hand from household painting and home improvement projects already, so having those on hand in child size is important before starting.

Very fun, my son love it

Good

This set is AWESOME! I highly recommend it! I purchased it to grow crystals in the office as a fun experiment to keep me entertained during busy season and it did not disappoint. You need to be sure to follow the instructions carefully. I made a fatal error on my first attempt and did not wait the full 30 minutes before I added the crystal seeding and nothing ended up growing. On the subsequent attempts I followed the instructions to a T and was able to grow beautiful crystals. I even ordered a second set because the results were astounding. The steps are simple enough I was able to grow these in my office with ease. All you need is boiling water and the rest is provided in the kit. The first step is to dissolve the crystal mixture (it looks almost like sugar) into hot water. Next, you have to let it sit for 15 minutes, and then transfer it into a clear plastic container where the crystal will grow. WAIT ANOTHER 30 MINUTES after the water is transferred. This step is crucial otherwise the crystals will not grow. Once you have waited the allotted time you drop in the crystal seeds. They provide blue, red, and white crystals so you can mix and match them to create different colored crystals. It seems that each type of crystal seed grows a different shape of crystal. I noticed that the red crystal seeds will grow more block-like crystals whereas the blue seeds will create more sharp/pointy crystals that flower out. Blue and red will create a crystal that looks like a combination between the two - it flowers out but is more block-like. Keep this in mind when you choose the colors you make. You will start seeing growth overnight. Its amazing to watch the progress. On the instructions it says it takes 4-7 days before the crystals are fully grown. I would keep an eye on them and drain the water when the crystal is about to emerge from the water. If you leave it too long the crystal is exposed to the air it will form "snow-like" growths on the top (which I think are ugly). The rate of growth will be affected by the temperature of the room as well as the size of the crystal you are growing. The crystals grow well in warmer temperatures. The small crystals will finish growing faster than the large ones. Each bag of crystal mixture can either make 1 large one, 2 medium sized one, or 4 small ones. The kit allows you to grow 1 large crystal, 2 medium crystals, and 4 small crystals simultaneously because that is the amount of containers they provide. If you want to grow 3 large ones you can grow them one at a time because they only provide one large container. I think the large crystals are the coolest.All in all this is an amazing kit. Everyone in the office is jealous and now they want to grow their own crystals too. 5 stars!!! I want to make ALL the crystals!

Great gift for students

Despite the fact that there were a few minor interruptions along the road, I am able to state that it has been an experience that has been both fulfilling and informative for both of us. Everything was properly arranged and correctly labeled, and it was delivered in a well-packaged state. In my opinion, the fact that this kit included everything that was required to begin growing crystals immediately was one of the most compelling selling points about it. I was able to save both time and effort since I did not have to bother about acquiring all of the additional items. There was a wide variety of crystal-growing chemicals, display domes, and the stirring sticks that were required. In addition, the instruction booklet was quite informative, offering a straightforward step-by-step tutorial that was easy for my daughter to comprehend and implement correctly. During the process of setting up the kit, I felt that the combination of scientific inquiry and creative expression that it inspires was something that I really valued. Not only did the instructions clarify how to cultivate the crystals, but they also delved into the science behind the process, which was something that my daughter found to be quite interesting. It is an excellent introduction to fundamental principles in chemistry, and it had the effect of getting her interested about the process. In accordance with the directions, we combined the crystal-growing ingredient with hot water and swirled the mixture for a few minutes. The procedure was not too complicated; however, I did observe that the water had to be pretty hot in order for the crystals to develop in the appropriate manner. Due to the fact that I did not feel comfortable allowing her to handle hot liquids on her own, I had to assist her with this particular aspect in order to guarantee that the temperature was precise. The instructions made it quite obvious that the process of cultivating the crystals may take many days, with patience being the most important factor. It was a little difficult for my daughter to deal with this particular aspect since she is often impatient with the outcomes. In the end, we made it a habit to examine the crystals on a daily basis in order to monitor their development, which, looking back, contributed to the atmosphere of excitement and expectation. In around four to five days, the crystals had grown to a size that was satisfactory. As shown by the box, the majority of them had a diameter of around one to two inches. The gem that seemed to shine in the dark ended up being the one that both of us liked the most. The fact that it gave out a gentle and ghostly glow when we switched off the lights was something that truly impressed my kid. An interesting memento from the experiment, it is now displayed on her desk as a memory. The growth of the other crystals was also fairly successful, resulting in them having stunning hues and fascinating forms. The fact that they were not precisely the same as the samples that were shown on the box is, in my opinion, one of the things that makes this kit so appealing. The fact that every crystal was one of a kind gave my daughter the impression that she was a young scientist who was finding something new. On the other hand, the crystal geodes were a little bit of a disappointment. The procedure of making these crystals was less rewarding than the process of making ordinary crystals, and the outcomes were not as stunning as the regular crystals. As a result of our attempts to touch one of the geodes, we discovered that it was far more brittle than we had anticipated. It was a small letdown, but the fact that the kit has a variety of crystals to cultivate meant that it did not detract from the experience as a whole. It is not enough to just observe the growth of crystals; one must also comprehend the reasons and processes behind this phenomenon. In addition to the fact that the kit performed an excellent job of presenting the physics underlying crystallization, my daughter really showed an interest in acquiring further knowledge about chemistry. The fact that this kit included both hands-on learning and scientific explanations gave the impression that it was more than simply a toy; rather, it proved to be an authentic educational resource.

Very fun kids love it

It was an amazing science activity set; my daughter loved it!