Uploaded November 2020 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Bet a tree can grow in minutes? Sure it can – this tree is chemical!
Equipment: glass container with sodium silicate solution, nickel(II) sulfate.
Drop some nickel(II) sulfate crystals into a glass container with a solution of sodium silicate. In 20 minutes, vertical green sticks resembling trees form.
Once the nickel(II) sulfate crystals enter the solution, they are immediately covered with a brittle green film of nickel(II) silicate:
NiSO₄ + Na₂SiO₃ → NiSiO₃ ↓ + Na₂SO₄
There are many cracks in this film, and they allow the reaction to continue and build upon itself. In 20 minutes, enough nickel(II) silicate forms to make large green sticks.
A similar experiment is included in the "Artificial Sea" set from the MEL Chemistry subscription!
Warning: only under adult supervision.
Bet a tree can grow in minutes? Sure it can – this tree is chemical!
Equipment: glass container with sodium silicate solution, nickel(II) sulfate.
Drop some nickel(II) sulfate crystals into a glass container with a solution of sodium silicate. In 20 minutes, vertical green sticks resembling trees form.
Once the nickel(II) sulfate crystals enter the solution, they are immediately covered with a brittle green film of nickel(II) silicate:
NiSO₄ + Na₂SiO₃ → NiSiO₃ ↓ + Na₂SO₄
There are many cracks in this film, and they allow the reaction to continue and build upon itself. In 20 minutes, enough nickel(II) silicate forms to make large green sticks.
A similar experiment is included in the "Artificial Sea" set from the MEL Chemistry subscription!
Warning: only under adult supervision.
