The Summer Science Club is a collection of fun kid-friendly science experiments and STEM projects explained.
As school ends millions of kids are released from a strict schedule of learning and innovating. As a kid who grew up with a science teacher mom and an engineering dad, I spent my summers doing science experiments and STEM projects. I came out of every summer with many new skills and knowledge of the world around me. Now, working with young kids at the library and babysitting kids, I teach these experiments to others.
Rock candy is the colored crystal-looking sticks we see on the shelves in candy stores. It's pure sugar and food coloring and doesn't taste like much, but the apparel is in the shape and the fun colors. Rock candy looks exactly like it sounds. It has a geometric crystal-like shape.
Even though it looks very impressive it is quite easy and fun to make. To make any kind of sugar-based candy you have to have two things. Sucrose, most commonly granulated sugar, and water. These two when combined with heat mean caramelization, because the sucrose molecules break together when they are heated up. There are two different ways that the act of caramelization can be used in candy. Crystalline makes candies like rock candy and fudge whereas non-crystalline candies make caramel and marshmallows.
The key and most important part when making candy is the temperature at which you heat the sugar and water combination. This depends on the kind of candy you want to make. To accurately measure the temperature you need a candy thermometer. This will tell you exactly what temperature your water and sugar are at and what the solution will make at that point in time.
The Experiment
These steps include a stove and some very hot liquid. Ask an adult to help.
Ingredients
2 cups of water
6 cups of granulated sugar
Food coloring
Equipment
4 12-ounce jars or one quart-sized jar
Cotton thread and pencils
Candy thermometer
Instructions
Clean the jars with hot water
For each of your jars cut a piece of string and tie it around a pencil so that the longer part of the string is hanging in the jar.
Bring the water to a boil and add the sugar one cup at a time.
Put your candy thermometer into the liquid and keep it on the stove until it reaches 230 degrees Fahrenheit.
Add your food coloring
Dip the strings on the pencils into water and roll them in granulated sugar.
Pour the sugar water syrup into the jars and let your jars sit for 3-5 days. Watch as the crystals start to form on the strings. Try putting the jars in different environments. A dark and warm spot or a cool and sunny spot. After the crystals you want have formed on the string you can eat them.
Remember to have an adult help you and have fun!
Work Cited
Vaughn, Carly. “Rock Candy Chemistry: The Science Behind Crystallized Candy.” Adventure Science Center, 1 October 2019, https://www.adventuresci.org/diy-science/posts/rock-candy-chemistry/. Accessed 28 July 2024.
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