A Crystal's Properties

The goal of today’s session was to have our Cogitanians use the resources provided to test various properties of the crystals they had started to grow from last month, then use the topics we have already covered to understand why these crystals had the observed properties. The students analyzed the refraction of light using laser pointers, the appearance of crystals under microscope, the hardness, and the electrical conductivity of either potassium ferricyanide (red) or copper(II) sulfate (blue). The images below are of some crystals under the microscope. The students were able to keep their large crystals to take home.

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