Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I am Leon, a student and I am interested in the crazy crystal project on science fair ideas. However in setting up the ice bath it says to set out the bath for five hours? Is this a typo, or am I supposed to refill it along the way?
Thanks!

Sounds like an interesting project. I'm not sure I fully understand your question, but the procedure in the Crazy Crystal project writeup says:

"...
11. Leave the jars alone for a minimum of 5 hours, or until crystals form (whichever is longer), and be sure not to disturb them. Check the ice bath regularly to make sure that the ice has not melted. Add ice, as necessary.
..."

When you add the ice, try to disturb the crystal growing chamber as little as possible. It will help if you do this while the room is cool and somewhere that direct sunlight does not fall on the ice container. It might also reduce the frequency of ice changes even more if you were to insulate the ice bowl by wrapping it in a towel.

Hope this helps. Good luck with your project!

Yes I know that but it also says in the beginning of the expirement to leave the ice bath itself without the crystal chamber alone undisturbed for a minimum of five hours, so is it the same thing add ice as necessary?

leons wrote:Yes I know that but it also says in the beginning of the expirement to leave the ice bath itself without the crystal chamber alone undisturbed for a minimum of five hours, so is it the same thing add ice as necessary?

If you mean this part of the procedure

Place the ice bath on a countertop or on a table, where it can be left undisturbed for at least 5 hours.

I interpret that to be a requirement on the place where you will perform the experiment, not an instruction to actually leave the ice bath on the counter top for 5 hours before beginning the experiment.

Does that clarify things?

The reason for the "undisturbed for 5 hours" recommendation is that mechanical vibration from any source can disturb crystal growth and cause fractures/weaknesses in the structure being formed.