Every kid loves the galaxy. There is something completely fascinating about space, spaceships, space travel, and how things work in space. Explore all of these themes all while learning about crystal science with the galaxy sugar crystal science experiment!
Kids will love making these sweet and edible sugar crystals, which makes it one of the best crystal experiments, because who doesn’t love delicious edible science?
Expand on sugar crystal science when you add the STEM extension ideas below and turn your science experiment into a complete STEM activity!
How to Make Crystals with Sugar
Read on to find out how to make your very own galaxy sugar crystal science experiment!
For more fun space theme activities, try our list of space activities, make a solar system mobile, try your own backyard space camp, or make planet slime!
The Science of Sugar Crystals in a Jar
During the summer, the last thing any child wants to do is learn, right?
But what if you could make learning so fun that kids begged to do it? That is where summer science experiments come in.
During the summer, we like to focus on hands-on science experiments and STEM activities with our kids, and they look forward to doing them every year.
Not only do they get the benefit of using their brains during the summer, but doing learning activities over the summer also provides the following benefits:
- Improved science grades
- Interest in science and math
- Screen-free fun
- Increased knowledge over the summer
- Prevention of summer slide
Making the galaxy sugar crystal science experiment is one of our favorite summer science experiments!
What Are Sugar Crystals?
A crystal is an example of an ionic bond between molecules. An ionic bond is an inflexible bonding of molecules that forms on a repeating pattern.
The molecules only bond in a specific pattern, which makes each type of crystal have a unique structure.
Most crystals are formed with minerals, but a few other organic materials can form crystallized shapes as well, including snowflakes and sugar.
Rock candy is an iconic and common representation of sugar crystals.
The most fun thing about sugar crystal science is that you can eat it afterward!
How Are Sugar Crystals Made?
Use this activity to explore the science behind sugar crystals. Use our science experiment worksheet to record your experiment results.
Each grain of sugar is made up of small crystals that are arranged into a specific pattern. Granulated sugar is made up of sucrose molecules.
Sugar crystals are formed when the sugar molecules connect, forming specific molecular chains, that form a larger crystal shape.
Sugar dissolves in water because the bond between sugar molecules is weaker than the bond that forms between sugar and water molecules.
When you add more sugar to boiling water than can dissolve in the water, it creates a super-saturated solution.
Hot water can hold more sugar molecules than cold water, so as the solution cools, the sugar molecules start bonding again, forming large sugar crystals in the water.
The longer the solution sits, the bigger your sugar crystals will get. You can speed the crystallization process by cooling your solution in the refrigerator.
Are Sugar Crystals Minerals?
The short answer is no. To be a mineral, a crystal has to be formed from inorganic material (something that doesn’t come from a living organisim).
Since sugar comes from a living organism (originally a sugar cane plant), it can form crystals, but they are not minerals.
How to Make Sugar Crystals
Turn your sugar crystals into a science project by adding these STEM elements to your experiment.
Science: Solutions, solutes, density, molecules, sugar crystal formation, crystal science
Technology: Learn about galaxies, nebulae, and space
Engineering: Perfecting the recipe to maximize crystal production, designing crystal look
Math: Measuring, comparing, adjusting recipes, calculating crystallization time
Rock Candy Experiment Worksheet
Grab the worksheet below and complete your sugar crystal science lesson!
Get the lesson plan for the sugar crystal science experiment! Everything you need to teach kids about science crystals with NGSS aligned concepts!
More Galaxy Experiments
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How to Make Fluffy Galaxy Slime (Just 3 ingredients!)
What You Need to Make the Sugar Crystal Recipe:
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The Mason Jar Scientist: 30 Jarring STEAM-Based ProjectsDomino Premium Pure Cane Granulated Sugar, 64 Ounce
Food Coloring Liqua-Gel – 12 Color Variety Kit in .75 fl. oz. (20ml) Bottles
Wilton 710-041 Pearilized Sugar Food Decorative, Gold, 5.25 oz.
12 Ball Mason Jar with Lid – Regular Mouth – 16 oz by Jarden
How to Make Edible Sugar Crystals
Making edible sugar crystals is easy.
First, boil two cups of water in a medium saucepan.
Add six cups of sugar to the solution and stir until dissolved.
Be careful not to boil the sugar too long, or else soft candy will start to form, which will ruin the crystal shape. You only want to heat the sugar long enough to dissolve in the water.
Once the sugar is dissolved, pour it carefully into three jars.
Color one jar blue, one jar pink, and one jar orange.
Sprinkle some edible glitter into each jar and stir.
Add a small bead or marble to the jar to encourage the crystals to form around the center of the jar. If you don’t add the small object, the crystals will form around the sides of the jar.
That can also look pretty, but it will be harder to examine the crystals. You can also use a string and popsicle stick to form the crystals around that.
Let the solution cool and sit for at least a week.
You can speed up the crystallization process by cooling the sugar solution in the refrigerator, but your crystals will come out sticky.
Once the crystals are as large as you would like them, pour out any remaining sugar water. Flip the jars upside down on a paper towel and let any excess liquid drip out.
Heat the sides of the jar to release the crystals from the jar (or leave them in).
Now you’ve made rock candy! You can eat it if you like.
Use a magnifying glass to examine the crystals.
What patterns can you find?
Break a small crystal piece off and examine under a microscope. Is the pattern the same under the microscope?