Crystals

A crystal is a special kind of solid. The tiny atoms inside are lined up in a neat, repeating pattern. This is why many crystals have flat sides and sharp points. Salt, sugar, and snowflakes are all crystals. So are diamonds and amethysts.

How They Form

Crystals grow when a liquid cools down or dries up. The atoms slowly join together in the same pattern again and again. Some crystals grow deep inside the Earth over millions of years. Others can grow in just a few days. You can even grow your own crystals at home with salt or sugar water.

Shapes and Colors

Crystals come in many shapes and colors. Some are cubes, like salt. Others look like long sticks or pointy needles. The shape depends on how the atoms fit together. Tiny bits of other materials can give crystals beautiful colors, like purple, pink, or green.

Fun Facts

• Every snowflake is a tiny crystal with six sides.
• The biggest crystals ever found are in a cave in Mexico and are as long as buses.
• Sugar and salt look like crystals if you look at them with a magnifying glass.

Did You Know?

The word 'crystal' comes from an old Greek word meaning 'ice,' because people once thought clear quartz was frozen water that could never melt.