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    Home » Science Experiments for Kids » Chemistry » Rock Candy Recipe

    Rock Candy Recipe

    December 12, 2011 By Emma Vanstone 26 Comments

    The first thing I have to say about this activity is that it’s sticky, messy and doesn’t always work, but when it does, it’s pretty amazing. Our rock candy recipe has been perfected from many, many attempts to get it to work, so hopefully, we’ve done most of the hard work for you.

    The first time we tried, nothing grew at all as the solution wasn’t concentrated enough, the second time, we made it too concentrated, and the whole solution crystallised. The third time it worked!!

    easy rock candy recipe! Make sugar crystals, learn about saturated solutions, solvents and solutes in this easy edible experiment for kids.

    Rock Candy Recipe

    3 cups of caster sugar

    1 cup of water

    A lolly stick, wooden stick or circle of wire/string

    A Jar,

    Sellotape

    Some sparkles  and/or food colouring ( optional )

    image of rock candy lollypops
    Crystallized sugar on wooden stick on wooden table.

    How to make your own rock candy

    Heat the water in a pan and add the sugar slowly, stirring continuously.

    Keep adding sugar until no more will dissolve, and then remove the heat and leave to cool for about 5 minutes. If you can get a bit more sugar to dissolve, then that’s a good thing. You want a saturated solution.

    Pour the solution into a glass jar and suspend the lolly stick, we used some sellotape to hold it in place. Don’t let it touch the bottom or the sides of the jar.

    Alternatively, you could tie some string to a pencil and rest the pencil on top of the jar with the string hanging in the jar.

    You should see crystals start to form after a few days.

    We made a lolly and a circle to hang on the Christmas tree. I was a bit disappointed with the circle, but we will be trying again with a star!

    Why does sugar crystallise?

    A crystal is a solid material with a naturally geometrically regular form. Some take millions of years to form, such as diamonds. The sugar crystals we made above take just a few days.

    Most minerals dissolved in water will form crystals given enough time and space. The shape of the crystal formed depends on the mineral’s molecule shape.

    In the case of our sugar crystals, there are two processes at work.

    Evaporation – the water evaporates slowly, meaning the solution becomes more saturated, so the sugar molecules come out of the solution and collect on the string/wire or stick.

    Precipitation – the solution we made was very concentrated, which means there was too much solute to remain dissolved in the water, therefore it starts to precipitate.

    What is a saturated solution?

    A saturated solution is a solution that won’t dissolve any more solute at that temperature. Our water and sugar solution was saturated when no more sugar would dissolve.

    What is a solute?

    A solute is a solid being dissolved. When making rock candy, sugar is the solute, and water is the solvent.

    What is a solvent?

    This is the liquid the solute is being dissolved into.

    What is a solution?

    This is what we call a solute and solvent.

    If you enjoyed this activity, you’ll love my other candy science experiments!

    pink and white rock candy lollypops made from a saturated sugar solution as part of a science experiment
    Easy rock candy recipe, brilliant for making lollypops and learning about saturated solutions. #EdibleScience #Scienceforkids

    Last Updated on February 20, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

    « Fun Sparks: A little bit of Sparkle
    Christmas Sensory Box – looking at our senses »

    Safety Notice

    Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

    These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. from fun to mum

      December 12, 2011 at 1:23 pm

      This is amazing! such a genius idea!!!!
      I might even try and convince husband to give it a go…baby still too little for this.

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        December 14, 2011 at 9:40 pm

        Fun for adults too!

        Reply
    2. susankmann

      December 12, 2011 at 1:29 pm

      ooh I love this. Definitely going to try it with my little ones. Thanks for sharing. x

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        December 14, 2011 at 9:40 pm

        Thank you, good luck with it x

        Reply
    3. MsXpat

      December 12, 2011 at 4:33 pm

      wow how beautiful and magical. i guess xmas at your house will be a ‘bomb’, lol

      Reply
    4. Actually Mummy...

      December 12, 2011 at 6:15 pm

      How cool is that?? Your kids must love being your kids!

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        December 14, 2011 at 9:39 pm

        Ahhh, thank you. I do try hard. xx

        Reply
    5. The Iowa Farmer's Wife

      December 12, 2011 at 8:31 pm

      Too cool! We just read a book about these being the entry for a Science Fair! It’s called My Blue Ribbon Day (or The Blue Ribbon Day). We’ll definitely have to try these sometime!

      Reply
    6. Rebekah @ The Golden Gleam

      December 12, 2011 at 8:54 pm

      These are amazing!!

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        December 14, 2011 at 9:39 pm

        Thank you. xx

        Reply
    7. Melissa @The Chocolate Muffin Tree

      December 13, 2011 at 5:00 am

      Awesome idea and for an ornament too!

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        December 14, 2011 at 9:38 pm

        awww, thanks. xx

        Reply
    8. Heather

      December 13, 2011 at 3:39 pm

      That is really cool!

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        December 14, 2011 at 9:38 pm

        Thank you. x

        Reply
    9. Rachel

      December 15, 2011 at 5:10 am

      Love this idea! My boys will have tons of fun with this. So glad I found your blog (through ABC & 123) – I’m a new follower.

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        December 15, 2011 at 9:17 am

        So glad you liked it. x

        Reply
    10. Marissa

      December 16, 2011 at 6:05 am

      this is so cool! I’d love you to add this to my What We Wore and Made Party over at http://raegunwear.blogspot.com/search/label/WWWMW

      Reply
    11. Kelli

      December 16, 2011 at 9:19 am

      Hi! I think that this is just great!
      I would LOVE for you to stop in and link this up in my Homeschooling on the Cheap! Link up. It is fairly new and I post it every Thursday. IT stays up all week. I’m looking for ideas on things homeschoolers can do. This looks like something for sure!

      Thank you, Kelli
      http://3boysandadog.com/deals/2011/homeschooling-on-the-cheap-12152011/

      Reply
    12. LoeLaLoep (Heidi)

      December 16, 2011 at 9:35 am

      They look great, especially with the pink. I’m a very impatient person but still I might try to make this 😉

      Reply
    13. Almost Unschoolers

      December 18, 2011 at 9:32 pm

      We’ve had the worst time trying to grow sugar crystals! I’m glad you finally managed it 🙂

      Reply
    14. Beth

      December 18, 2011 at 9:47 pm

      This is amazing!! What a cool, cool activity!!! We are definitely going to be trying this!!! I am your newest follower! I’d love for you to follow me back, if you want to =) I also wanted to invite you to link up to TGIF Linky Party – http://livinglifeintentionally.blogspot.com/search/label/Linkey%20Parties – I know my readers would love this!! Merry Christmas,
      Beth

      Reply
    15. Ticia

      January 07, 2012 at 3:49 pm

      My daughter approves of the one that looks like a bracelet!

      Thanks for linking up to Science Sunday (yes I am this late on commenting).

      Reply
    16. Aly

      November 28, 2012 at 4:31 pm

      My kids have brought these home with the yoghurt pot and lollipop stick before.I’ll have to get them to try making a bracelet.

      Reply
    17. maggy, red ted art

      November 28, 2012 at 5:19 pm

      Fantastic! What a perfect Christmas Science Craft.

      Thanks for sharing on Kids Get Crafty!

      Maggy

      Reply
    18. Katie

      December 01, 2012 at 10:21 pm

      My kids would be beyond excited to make their own candy. And this is such as simple recipe!

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        December 03, 2012 at 9:47 am

        is it simple, although it did take us a few goes!

        Reply

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