Crystallization - Journal of Chemical Education (ACS Publications)

Publication Date: January 1931. Cite this:J. Chem. Educ. 8, 1, 149-. Note: In lieu of an abstract, this is the article's first page. Click to increase...
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CRYSTALLIZATION Crystallization and the change of substances from liquids to solids can be illustrated in a most interesting and rather spectacular way by the use of an ordinary projection lantern and a microscope slide projector. It is possible to actually see the various crystal formations slowly take shape. It is really a "motion" picture but there is no film-only a plain microscope slide, but it has never failed to arouse the keenest interest. The equipment used for the demonstration was a Bausch and Lomb projection lantern and a slide projector made by the same company. A microscope slide was heated until it was almost uncomfortable to hold

Two

I'rWraMrcnoG~~~~s OF ACETAMIDECRYSTALS

and then on it was poured a small quantity of melted acetamide which was spread over the slide in a very thin layer. This was inserted in the slide holder of the projector. As the slide cooled the freezing point of the acetamide was reached and crystals formed on the slide. The interesting part of the whole demonstration is when there suddenly appears on the clear screen a spear-like shaft moving from one side only to be met by another and another from all directions until the screen has more the appearance of a picture of a dense forest of palms or a window covered with gigantic frost crystals. Crystals of a different type can be shown by using a supersaturated solution of salicylic acid and allowing it to cool to its crystallization point on the slide.