How do rock candy from?

Rock candy formation involves the crystallization of sugar from a supersaturated sugar solution. Here's a step-by-step explanation of the process:

1. Supersaturated Solution:

- Start with boiling water.

- Gradually add sugar to the boiling water while stirring continuously until no more sugar dissolves. At this point, the solution is saturated.

- Continue adding sugar until the solution becomes supersaturated, meaning it holds more dissolved sugar than it can normally hold at a given temperature.

2. Seed Crystals:

- Tie a string or thread around the middle of a wooden skewer or popsicle stick.

- Dip the string into the supersaturated sugar solution and let it hang freely inside the container.

- The string acts as a nucleation site, providing a surface for sugar crystals to form and grow.

3. Crystallization:

- As the supersaturated solution cools down slowly, the dissolved sugar molecules start to organize and arrange themselves into a regular, crystalline structure.

- Sugar crystals begin to form on the string, gradually growing in size.

4. Continued Growth:

- Leave the container undisturbed for several days to a week.

- The sugar crystals on the string will continue to grow by attracting more dissolved sugar molecules from the solution.

5. Harvesting Rock Candy:

- After the crystals have grown to your desired size, carefully remove the string from the container.

- The rock candy crystals will be attached to the string.

- Allow the crystals to dry completely before handling them.

Factors Affecting Crystal Growth:

- The size and shape of the crystals can vary depending on factors such as temperature, humidity, and the concentration of the sugar solution.

- Slower cooling and higher sugar concentration generally lead to larger crystals.

Rock candy formation illustrates the process of crystallization, which occurs in many natural and industrial processes, such as the formation of minerals, salt crystals, and the crystallization of compounds in chemical solutions.