Re: Pictures with crystals

Robert Hudyma (rhudyma@netcom.ca)
Thu, 06 Feb 1997 11:39:16 -0500

At 03:13 PM 2/6/97 -0800, Niels Berg Olsen wrote:
>Chemical substances of different colors crystallized on a glass plate.
>By blowing air on the plate during the crystallization process, the
>artist could manipulate the forms of the differently colored areas.
>
>Can anyone tell me which substances it might have been ?
>I am sorry, that no further details can be given.
>

I did this in high school. You can use many common chemicals that will melt
when heated.

You can try: asprin (ASA), hydroquinone (developing agent), urine (uric
acid or
is it urea??), ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and many many other compounds.

You place the chemical on a glass plate and gently warm it until the chemical
melts. Crystals are formed when the plate cools down.

You can view the plate between 2 polarizing filters and you will see the
colors.

Kodak has a book on how to photograph through a microscope. Microphotography
I believe. There is a picture of the colored crystals on the front cover.

Have fun!

Robert Hudyma, e-mail: rhudyma@netcom.ca or rhudyma@aol.com
Semi-Tech Corporation, 131 McNabb Street Markham Ontario Canada L3R 5V7
Phone: (905) 475-2670 ext: 228