Science Smarts: Sweet treat for a sweet lady

By Patty Rooks on February 4, 2023.

When I looked at the date, I was so excited that I could share something I did this past week with you. It is a very special day today… it is Nana’s birthday! I am finding it harder and harder to find the perfect gift for Nana. After wracking my brain, I turned to science (of course). What better way to say “I Love You Nana” than to make something special for her?! I am calling it a sweet treat for a sweet lady. I hope she enjoys it at her birthday party later today… Let’s get started.

*Remember to ask an adult before you do this experiment.

Materials

– Granulated sugar

– Water

– Large pot

– Popsicle sticks

– 4 or 5 small glass mason jars

– Wooden spoon

– Stove

– Kool Aid© (small powder packages you add sugar to)

– Clothes pins

– Measuring cups

– Timer

– Adult helper

Procedure

1. Measure 375 mL (2 1/2 cups) of granulated sugar and pour into the pot.

2. Add 250 mL (one cup) of water. Stir well.

3. Have an adult help you place the pot on the stove and allow it to come to a boil. This will ensure the sugar is entirely dissolved.

4. Remove the mixture from the heat and allow it to cool for at least 15 minutes.

5. It is time to flavor your sweet treat – add the package of Kool Aid© to a mason jar. Pour over enough of the sugar/water mixture to fill it up almost to the top. Mix well. Repeat this step for as many different flavors of candy you want to create. I made a cherry and a lemonade one!

6. Clip the clothespins on the end of the popsicle stick.

7. Wet the stick (lightly) with water.

8. Sprinkle a bit of sugar on the stick.

9. Carefully place the stick in the jar – by resting the clothespin on the mouth of the jar it will sit just fine.

10. Make sure the stick is not touching the bottom or the sides – if it is the crystals will stick to the jar and not the stick.

11. Set in a location where it will not be disturbed for a few days.

12. Observe.

13. Be patient.

14. When there are enough crystals on the stick, remove and enjoy!

What is going on?

You made sugar crystals in this experiment. The water/sugar mixture you made was a supersaturated solution. This simply means that there is more sugar than can actually dissolve into the water. We need it to have A LOT of sugar in order for the crystals to start growing.

We also helped the process of growing the crystals along as well. When you sprinkled the sugar on your stick, you were “seeding” crystals. You prepared the sticks for the sugar crystals to grow by putting some sugar on the stick which allows the crystals to start growing.

Another thing that was happening in this experiment was evaporation. You should have observed this each and every time you looked at the jar. The level of the water was slowly going down in the jar. As the water evaporated out. This also helped as more sugar became available to attach to the crystals and the growth may have appeared to be spreading up the stick and jar even! I hope you enjoy your sweet treats with someone you care about as well.

Teachers – if your school is interested in having a science fair club, make sure you call soon so I can pop by and give you some great pointers!

Patty Rooks, Senior Scientific Consultant PRAXIS, “Connecting Science To The Community”. Contact Praxis at praxis@praxismh.ca, http://www.praxismh.ca, Tweet or follow us @PraxisMedHat, or friend us on Facebook. Address: #12 826 11 Street S. E., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 1T7 Phone: 403.527.5365, email: praxis@praxismh.ca

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