i was wondering how alum crystals grow because im doing a science project on growing alum crystals. i need to know this
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http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howtos/ht/…
They grow because the solution they are in is supersaturated or there is more than can normally be dissolved. That is usually accomplished by dissolving it in hot water where more can be dissolved. You could also evaporate the water after it dissolved. When the water cools it wants to precipitate and will preferably attach to other crystals. Most crystals have a hard time spontaneously forming so the supersaturated solution causes the molecules to attach to growing crystals first.
They grow because the solution they are in is supersaturated or there is more than can normally be dissolved. That is usually accomplished by dissolving it in hot water where more can be dissolved. You could also evaporate the water after it dissolved. When the water cools it wants to precipitate and will preferably attach to other crystals. Most crystals have a hard time spontaneously forming so the supersaturated solution causes the molecules to attach to growing crystals first.